Choking First Aid: Health Tip

Thousands of Americans die each year from choking. The American Red Cross describes first aid to help prevent this type of death:

1. Give five back blows. To do so, bend the person forward at the waist and give five back blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of one hand.
2. Give five abdominal thrusts. To do so, place a fist against the middle of the person's abdomen. Cover your first with your other hand. Give five quick, upward abdominal thrusts.
3. Continue sets of five back blows and five abdominal thrusts until the object is forced out, the person can cough or breathe, or the person becomes unconscious.

If a choking person becomes unconscious, call 911 immediately.