CHOKING RESCUE FOR ADULT VICTIM

Technique used to assist a choking responsive adult is abdominal thrusts, aka the Heimlich maneuver.

1. stand or kneel behind the victim and wrap your arms around their waist
2. make a fist with one hand
3. place the thumb side of your fist against the victim’s abdomen, in the midline, slightly above the navel and well below the breastbone
4. grasp your fist with your other hand and press your fist into the victim’s abdomen with a quick forceful upward thrust
5. give each thrust a distinct sharp movement
6. repeat thrusts until the foreign object is expelled from the airway

If a choking adult victim is unresponsive:

1. shout for help to activate ERS
2. if the victim is becoming unresponsive, help or lower them to the ground
3. begin CPR
4. check in the victim’s mouth for foreign objects that can be easily removed
5. after about 5 minutes of CPR, activate ERS if hasn’t been done