🚨 If You Start to Suffocate and You’re Alone: What to Do
If you are choking and cannot breathe, speak, or cough effectively, act immediately. There isn’t a reliable way to save yourself in literally one second, but the correct steps can be lifesaving.
1. Call Emergency Services
If you can, call your local emergency number immediately. Put the phone on speaker so you can continue trying to clear the blockage.
2. Try to Cough
If you can still breathe or cough forcefully, keep coughing. Don’t waste time trying to drink water or putting your fingers into your throat.
3. Perform Abdominal Thrusts on Yourself
If you cannot breathe or cough effectively:
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Make a fist and place it just above your belly button and below your breastbone.
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Grasp your fist with your other hand.
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Pull inward and upward with quick, forceful thrusts.
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Repeat until the object comes out or help arrives.
4. Use a Firm Object
If you cannot perform effective thrusts with your hands, position your upper abdomen against the edge of a firm, non-sharp surface, such as the back of a sturdy chair or countertop.
Press your upper abdomen forcefully against the edge, repeating as needed.
Do not use a sharp corner or anything that could injure your abdomen.
5. If You Become Unconscious
If you lose consciousness, you can no longer perform the maneuver yourself. Emergency medical help is essential. If another person arrives, they should begin appropriate choking first aid and CPR as needed.
⚠️ Important
Don’t blindly put your fingers into your mouth to search for the object—you can push it farther down. After a serious choking episode, medical evaluation may be appropriate even if the object comes out, particularly if you have persistent coughing, chest pain, breathing difficulty, or trouble swallowing.
Remember: Severe choking is an emergency. Act immediately and contact emergency services rather than relying on a viral “one-second” trick.
