In a conscious adult or child over 1 year who is choking, what is the recommended sequence of actions?

In a conscious adult or child over 1 year who is choking, what is the recommended sequence of actions?

• A. Give 5 back blows followed by 5 abdominal thrusts, and repeat until the object is expelled or the person can breathe or becomes unconscious.
• B. Perform 30 seconds of chest compressions before attempting to clear the airway.
• C. Check for a foreign object by finger sweep regardless of whether the person is conscious.
• D. Call for help and wait before starting any airway maneuvers.

Answer: (A)

When someone is conscious and choking, you clear the airway immediately with a combination that both dislodges and expels the blockage. The standard sequence is five back blows to jar the object loose, followed by five abdominal thrusts to push air up from the lungs and force the object out. This cycle is repeated until the blockage is expelled, the person can breathe or cough, or they become unconscious. This approach targets the obstruction directly and avoids delaying relief with chest compressions while the person is still conscious. A finger sweep should only be done if the object is clearly visible and easily reachable; blindly sweeping can push the object deeper or cause injury. Waiting for help before starting maneuvers wastes valuable time, so you should begin the airway clearance now and call for help as you proceed. If the person loses consciousness, transition to CPR with appropriate airway management.

When someone is conscious and choking, you clear the airway immediately with a combination that both dislodges and expels the blockage. The standard sequence is five back blows to jar the object loose, followed by five abdominal thrusts to push air up from the lungs and force the object out. This cycle is repeated until the blockage is expelled, the person can breathe or cough, or they become unconscious. This approach targets the obstruction directly and avoids delaying relief with chest compressions while the person is still conscious. A finger sweep should only be done if the object is clearly visible and easily reachable; blindly sweeping can push the object deeper or cause injury. Waiting for help before starting maneuvers wastes valuable time, so you should begin the airway clearance now and call for help as you proceed. If the person loses consciousness, transition to CPR with appropriate airway management.