Which statement is true about choking management?

• A. You should always perform abdominal thrusts first
• B. Chest compressions alone are sufficient for a choking victim
• C. If the obstruction persists, you should continue attempting maneuvers until cleared or unresponsive
• D. You should never call EMS

Answer: (C)

Dealing with a choking situation centers on actively trying to clear the airway until the blockage is gone or the person stops breathing and becomes unresponsive. In a conscious adult or child, you use the established sequence of back blows and abdominal thrusts and continue cycling through those maneuvers. You don’t stop after one attempt—keep going until the object is expelled or the person can breathe, cough, or speak again.

If the obstruction persists and you can’t relieve it, or the person becomes unresponsive, you should call emergency services and begin CPR. During CPR, you check the mouth for the object and remove it if it’s visible and easy to grasp, then resume chest compressions. The idea is to persist with the airway-opening attempts and escalate to CPR if the person loses responsiveness.