(30282) *First Aid for a Choking Child (Over One Year) 2026 REPLACES (17231)

• If the child is coughing effectively (fully responsive, loud cough, taking a breath before coughing, still crying, or speaking), there is no need to do anything
• Encourage them to carry on coughing and don’t leave them
• Try to stay calm and reassure the child
• If the child’s coughing is becoming ineffective and their condition is deteriorating (signs of decreasing consciousness, a quiet cough, an inability to breathe or vocalise, or cyanosis*), ask someone to call 999 or 112 for emergency help. If you are alone and have a mobile phone, use the loudspeaker function if you can do this at the same time as giving treatment
• If the obstruction is not cleared move to the next step

*bluish-purple skin colour. It is most easily seen where the skin is thin, such as the lips, mouth, earlobes and fingernails.

 

• Lean the child over your knee or bend them forwards so the head is lower than the chest
• Give up to 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand
• Check between each blow and stop if you clear the obstruction
• If the obstruction is still not cleared, move to the next step

• Kneel or stand behind the child
• Place both your arms around their waist
• Make a fist with one hand and place it just above the belly button (below the ribs) with your thumb inwards
• Grasp this fist with the other hand
• Thrust sharply inwards and upwards. Try this up to 5 times, checking between thrusts to see if you've cleared the obstruction - if so, stop!
• Call out, or send for help if it is still not available

If the obstruction is not cleared:

• Continue the cycle of 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts whilst the child is still responsive

Important: If the child becomes unresponsive, start CPR.

Airway opening:

• When you open the airway to give rescue breaths, look to see if there is anything in the mouth
• If an object is seen, attempt to remove it with a single finger sweep
• Do not attempt blind or repeated finger sweeps

Rescue breaths:

• Attempt 5 rescue breaths
• Assess the effectiveness of each breath: if a breath does not make the chest rise, reposition the head before making the next attempt
• Proceed immediately to chest compression regardless of whether the breaths are successful and perform CPR

Chest compressions and CPR:

• Continue the cycle of 2 breaths and 15 compressions until help arrives
• If the child regains consciousness and is breathing effectively, place them in the recovery position and monitor breathing and conscious level whilst awaiting the arrival of the ambulance.

Always seek urgent medical attention if:

• • The child has received abdominal thrusts
  • They have difficulty swallowing, a persistent cough
  • They say it feels like there is something stuck in their throat