{"id":60832,"date":"2026-08-27T18:50:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T15:50:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/findmykids.org\/blog\/?p=60832"},"modified":"2026-08-28T18:43:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T15:43:15","slug":"a-child-is-choking-what-to-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/findmykids.org\/blog\/en\/a-child-is-choking-what-to-do","title":{"rendered":"A child is choking. What to do"},"content":{"rendered":"

A\u00a0child is\u00a0choking. What to\u00a0do<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is\u00a0one of\u00a0those skills you hope you\u2019ll never have to\u00a0use. But if\u00a0you do\u00a0\u2014 it\u2019s better to\u00a0know the steps in\u00a0advance than to\u00a0frantically Google instructions in\u00a0the moment. Save this lesson so\u00a0you don\u2019t lose\u00a0it.<\/p>\n

Choking can look different<\/strong><\/p>\n

If\u00a0the child is\u00a0coughing but can breathe and speak, they are not in\u00a0immediate danger. Coughing is\u00a0the body\u2019s way of\u00a0clearing the airway, so\u00a0you can simply stay close and make sure everything is\u00a0okay. Don\u2019t pat them on\u00a0the back the way people used to\u00a0do\u00a0because this can push the object deeper.<\/p>\n

When you need to\u00a0act immediately<\/strong><\/p>\n

If\u00a0the child suddenly goes silent and can neither inhale nor exhale or\u00a0if\u00a0their face turns blue, red or\u00a0suddenly pale, and sometimes they grab at\u00a0their throat\u00a0\u2014 this means the airway is\u00a0completely blocked and without oxygen the brain will start to\u00a0suffer within minutes.<\/p>\n

The first thing to\u00a0do<\/strong><\/p>\n

Call emergency services (999 in\u00a0the UK\u00a0\/ 911 in\u00a0the US\u00a0\/ 112 in\u00a0the XXX) and start helping immediately\u00a0\u2014 don\u2019t wait for someone to\u00a0answer. If\u00a0there\u2019s someone else nearby, ask them to\u00a0call while you help the child.<\/p>\n

If\u00a0the child is\u00a0under one year old<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Heimlich manoeuvre is\u00a0not suitable for infants\u00a0\u2014 the risk of\u00a0damaging internal organs is\u00a0too high. Use a\u00a0different technique instead.<\/p>\n

Sit down and place the baby face down along your forearm so\u00a0that the head is\u00a0lower than the body\u00a0\u2014 as\u00a0if\u00a0they are sliding down a\u00a0slide on\u00a0their tummy. Support the head and neck with one hand. Using the heel of\u00a0your hand, deliver five firm blows between the shoulder blades. These should be\u00a0definite strikes, not gentle pats.<\/p>\n

Then cover the baby with your other hand, hold them between both hands and turn them onto their back\u00a0\u2014 the head should still be\u00a0lower than the body. Using two fingers, press on\u00a0the breastbone five times: just below the nipple line, in\u00a0the centre, pressing down about one third of\u00a0the chest depth.<\/p>\n

Alternate these two cycles\u00a0\u2014 five back blows, five chest thrusts\u00a0\u2014 until the object comes out or\u00a0the ambulance arrives. If\u00a0the child loses consciousness, begin CPR and follow the dispatcher\u2019s instructions.<\/p>\n

If\u00a0the child is\u00a0over one year old<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here you alternate back blows with the Heimlich manoeuvre.<\/p>\n

Back blows first<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stand beside the child and support them gently with one hand. Lean them forward so\u00a0the back is\u00a0parallel to\u00a0the floor. Using the heel of\u00a0your hand, deliver five blows between the shoulder blades.<\/p>\n

Then the Heimlich manoeuvre<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stand directly behind the child. If\u00a0the child is\u00a0small\u00a0\u2014 kneel down to\u00a0be\u00a0at\u00a0their level.<\/p>\n

Find the navel. Your hands will work just above it\u00a0but well below the ribs. That zone between the navel and the ribs is\u00a0where you need to\u00a0be.<\/p>\n

Make a\u00a0fist with one hand. Place it\u00a0against the child\u2019s abdomen in\u00a0that zone with the thumb side against the body. Grip the fist firmly with your other hand. Make five sharp inward and upward thrusts\u00a0\u2014 firm and quick, as\u00a0if\u00a0you\u2019re trying to\u00a0lift the child by\u00a0the stomach.<\/p>\n

Even if\u00a0everything seems fine\u00a0\u2014 see a\u00a0doctor<\/strong><\/p>\n

Back blows and abdominal thrusts create significant pressure that can affect internal organs. Part of\u00a0the lodged object may also remain in\u00a0the airway and cause problems later. It\u2019s best to\u00a0see a\u00a0doctor even if\u00a0everything seems okay.<\/p>\n

Which foods are dangerous<\/strong><\/p>\n

Children under 3\u20134 years old don\u2019t chew well, they eat quickly and get distracted easily, so\u00a0they\u2019re at\u00a0particular risk. The main culprits: grapes, cherry tomatoes, cherries, nuts, seeds, popcorn, raw carrots, raw apple, hot dogs, large pieces of\u00a0meat, toffees and chewing gum.<\/p>\n

A\u00a0simple rule: everything round should be\u00a0cut into quarters so\u00a0that no\u00a0round cross-section remains; everything hard should be\u00a0cut into small pieces. If\u00a0a\u00a0child can put something whole into their mouth\u00a0\u2014 it\u00a0needs to\u00a0be\u00a0cut or\u00a0removed.<\/p>\n

For older children, it\u2019s worth explaining why they shouldn\u2019t laugh or\u00a0talk with a\u00a0full mouth\u00a0\u2014 it\u2019s not about manners, it\u2019s physiology. When you laugh, the epiglottis opens and food can go\u00a0\u201cdown the wrong pipe\u201d (remember being told exactly that as\u00a0a\u00a0child?)<\/p>\n\t\t