Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Foreign Body Airway Obstruction
A choking person’s airway may be completely or partially
blocked. A complete blockage is an urgent medical
emergency. A partial obstruction can quickly become
life threatening if the person looses the ability to
breath in and out sufficiently. Without oxygen,
permanent brain damage can occur in as little as 4
minutes.
 Do not perform first aid if the person is coughing
forcefully and able to speak. A strong cough can
dislodge the object on its own.
 The universal sign for someone choking is the hand at
the throat.
 Unable to speak, breath, or cough.
 Ask the person: “Are you choking?”
 Ask the person: “Can you speak?”
 Tell the person you will help them.
Are you choking?
Can you speak?
 Stand behind the person.
 Wrap your arms around the person.
 Make a fist.
 Put thumb side of fist just above the belly button and
below the breastbone.
 Grasp fist with other hand.
 Make quick, upward and inward thrust with your fist.
 Continue thrust until the object is dislodge or the
person looses consciousness.
 If the person becomes unconscious, lower person to
the floor, call 911, and begin CPR.
 If you see the object blocking the airway try to remove
it.