If you are choking and alone, what should you do?

If you are choking and alone, what should you do?

• A. Call for help and wait.
• B. Abdominal thrusts on yourself or bend over a firm object.
• C. Drink water.
• D. Lie down.

Answer: (B)

When someone is choking and you’re alone, you must generate enough pressure to pop the object out of your airway. Self-administered abdominal thrusts accomplish this by creating a strong inward and upward force on your upper abdomen. You can do this by placing a fist against the area above your navel and giving quick inward and upward thrusts with your other hand. If you can’t reach your abdomen, bend over a firm object and press your abdomen against it to achieve the same effect. Drinking water or lying down won’t clear a blockage and waiting for someone else can waste critical time. If you can, call for help while attempting the thrusts, and seek emergency medical care immediately if you can’t dislodge the obstruction.

When someone is choking and you’re alone, you must generate enough pressure to pop the object out of your airway. Self-administered abdominal thrusts accomplish this by creating a strong inward and upward force on your upper abdomen. You can do this by placing a fist against the area above your navel and giving quick inward and upward thrusts with your other hand. If you can’t reach your abdomen, bend over a firm object and press your abdomen against it to achieve the same effect.

Drinking water or lying down won’t clear a blockage and waiting for someone else can waste critical time. If you can, call for help while attempting the thrusts, and seek emergency medical care immediately if you can’t dislodge the obstruction.