Sorry I didn't see this earlier.

tilting the individual upside down as a first response is a good idea. However, I understand the reason they are not educating people to instantly give the 4 blows to the back, is that it must be done in a particular way to prevent the person swallowing the item they are choking on.

It is also important to keep in mind that there are other things you can do to encourage the object to move. My FIRST port of call is to always ask the person to do a big cough for me. Often that pressure is enough to dislodge the item.

If the person is able to cry or talk, they are getting air in and the situation is much less catastrophic than if the person can't.


If you do find yourself needing to administer back blows to assist in dislodging an item from someone's airway you should;

Put them over your knee (size permitting ) face down with their head lower than the remainder of the body
Administer 4 firm strikes to the back between the shoulder blades
The blows should be administered with an open hand and in the direction the person is tilting (so towards their head).


Re putting your fingers in their mouth... NO WAY! NEVER do this. You could push the object further down the airway and/or get your fingers bitten off Never put your fingers into an unconscious persons mouth either unless it is really really really necessary!

It is always scary when we find ourselves with someone choking but it is important to remain calm. If you are calm, the person is less likely to panic. If they panic, everything constricts and they may go into further respiratory distress.