A child is choking. What should you do?

• A. Give back blows
• B. Give abdominal thrusts until the object is dislodged or the child becomes unresponsive
• C. Start chest compressions
• D. Call 911

Answer: (B)

When a child is conscious and choking, the priority is to quickly relieve the airway obstruction by applying abdominal thrusts. This maneuver uses a quick upward pressure below the diaphragm to raise chest pressure and push the object out of the airway. You continue these thrusts until the object is dislodged or the child becomes unresponsive. If the child becomes unresponsive, you immediately begin CPR, check the mouth for the object as you open the airway, and continue with rescue breaths and chest compressions. The aim is to restore breathing as soon as possible by clearing the obstruction with abdominal thrusts.