When an adult becomes unresponsive due to choking, knowing how to act quickly and correctly can mean the difference between life and death. In such emergencies, performing CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) the right way ensures oxygen continues to circulate until professional help arrives. This guide will walk you through the step-by-step procedure of performing CPR on an unresponsive choking adult, combining safety, clarity, and urgency.
Recognizing the Emergency
The first step is identifying if the person is indeed unresponsive due to choking. Typical signs include:
- Inability to speak, cough, or breathe
- Clutching the throat (universal sign of choking)
- Sudden collapse
- Blue lips or skin (cyanosis)
If the individual is conscious, encourage them to cough. If they lose consciousness, you must act immediately.
Step 1: Call for Help
Before beginning CPR, shout for help. Call 911 or ask someone nearby to do so. If you’re alone, call emergency services yourself before initiating CPR.
Step 2: Check for Responsiveness and Breathing
Tap the person’s shoulder and shout, “Are you okay?” If there’s no response, check for breathing by looking for chest movement, listening for breath sounds, and feeling for air movement for no more than 10 seconds.
If the person is not breathing or only gasping, CPR must be started immediately.
Step 3: Begin Chest Compressions
Lay the person flat on their back on a firm surface.
- Kneel beside them and place the heel of one hand on the center of their chest (on the lower half of the sternum).
- Place your other hand on top and interlock your fingers.
- With straight arms, use your upper body weight to compress the chest at least 2 inches deep at a rate of 100–120 compressions per minute.
- Allow the chest to fully recoil between compressions.
Continue compressions until help arrives or the person starts to show signs of life.
Step 4: Check the Mouth
After 30 compressions, open the person’s mouth to check for any visible obstruction.
- If you see an object and can safely remove it with a finger sweep, do so.
- If not, do not perform a blind finger sweep as it may push the object further down the airway.
Step 5: Provide Rescue Breaths
If trained and confident:
- Tilt the head back slightly to open the airway.
- Pinch the nose shut and give 2 slow rescue breaths, watching for the chest to rise.
- If the chest doesn’t rise, reposition the head and try again. If it still doesn’t rise, resume chest compressions.
If you are not trained in rescue breathing or uncomfortable doing it, continue with chest compressions only.
Step 6: Repeat the Cycle
Continue with cycles of 30 compressions and 2 breaths until:
- The object is expelled and the person breathes normally
- Emergency responders take over
- You are too exhausted to continue
Important Considerations
- Use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) if available. Follow the device’s prompts.
- Do not delay CPR to search extensively for the object.
- Even if unsure about rescue breaths, high-quality chest compressions are crucial.
Why Prompt Action Matters
Brain cells begin to die within minutes without oxygen. Quick and efficient CPR not only buys time until emergency help arrives but can also significantly improve the person’s chances of survival and recovery.
