Basic Life Support

Points to remember

Never put your finger blindly into a throat or you may push the obstructing object deeper. First, open the mouth and look inside.

A general reaction to a choking person is to slap him or her on the back. This technique may be used, and up to 5 slabs on the back between the shoulder blades may be given, only when the person can bend his or her head lower than the chest. Slapping a person on the back in an upright position causes the head to extend backwards opening the airway and may cause the obstructing object to be sucked deeper as the person attempts to inhale.

If the victim happens to be yourself, you may try a modified Heimlich on yourself, throw yourself against a firm edge such as the side of a table or the back of a chair so that the edge strikes you just above the navel or belt level.