Airway obstruction

If someone is choking and cannot breathe normally, it is important to act quickly. Airway obstruction can lead to oxygen deprivation, cardiac arrest and life-threatening injuries. It is therefore important that you know how to best help the person.
Updated

What can you do?

If the person is still conscious and able to cough, ask them to continue coughing. Coughing may help to dislodge the object. If the person is unable to breathe, cough or speak, you must help by alternating five back blows with five stomach blows. The following method works for adults and children over the age of one.

Give back blows:

  • Start by standing behind the person and leaning forward so that their head is tilted down.
  • Place one hand on the top of the person's chest for support.
  • - Then use the lower part of your hand to deliver up to five strong blows between the person's shoulder blades.

If back slaps do not help, try abdominal pressure:

  • Stand behind the person.
  • Lean forward.
  • Wrap your arms around their waist.
  • Make a fist with one hand and place it between the navel and the chest. Place the other hand on top.
  • Do five strong abdominal thrusts.
  • Continue alternating back and abdominal thrusts until the object causing the blockage comes up. If the person becomes unconscious, call 112 and start CPR with 30 alternating chest compressions and two breaths.

Train yourself

There are courses where you can practise helping someone with a blocked airway.
For example, through HLR-rådet, Röda korset and Svenska Livräddningssällskapet.