Chocking takes place when the airway suddenly becomes blocked. This can be either fully blocked or partially blocked, but it means that the person can’t breathe or cannot breathe efficiently.

Many things can cause a person to choke. Sometimes eating dry food such as peanut butter can cause choking.

There are two types of choking, namely mild and severe

Mild

Here the airway is partially blocked, and the person will normally be able to speak, cough and breathe a little. With this type of choking the person may be able to clear the blockage themselves. 

- Encourage them to cough. This is often enough to clear things.

- Ask your client to spit out any object in the mouth.

- Under no circumstances should you place your fingers in their mouth as they may bite you accidentally.

- If coughing does not work, then you should start back blows.

 

Severe

Here the person may not be able to speak, cough or breathe and without assistance, they will soon be unconscious.

Back blows

- Stand behind the person and slightly to one side. 

- Support the chest with one hand and lean the person slightly forward.

- Give 5 sharp blows between the shoulder blades using the heel of the hand.

- Check if the blockage has cleared.

If not, give 5 abdominal thrusts:

- Stand behind the person.

- Place your arms around the waist and bend them slightly forward.

- Make a fist and place it right above the belly button.

- Place the other hand on top of the fist and sharply pull upwards and inwards.

- Repeat up to 5 times.

If after this the airway is still blocked, you should call for help immediately. Call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

While you are waiting you should continue the cycle of 5 back blows and then 5 upper thrusts until help arrives.

https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/accidents-first-aid-and-treatments/what-should-i-do-if-someone-is-choking/#:~:text=Stand%20behind%2

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