Choking Prevention and Resuscitation Awareness

Choking prevention is when you stop or prevent someone from choking on food or another item that is caught in the back of their throat. Choking resuscitation (also known as choking first aid) is what to do in a choking emergency and how to do it safely such as abdominal thrusts and back blows.

Our Choking Prevention and Resuscitation Awareness training course will teach learners how to prevent choking and how to perform basic life support if someone is choking.

The 5 ways to prevent choking is dependent on whether they are an adult or a child/toddler. For adults, follow these precautionary measures:

1. Cut food into small pieces
2. Ensure they chew slowly and thoroughly, especially if they’re wearing dentures
3. Avoid talking or laughing whilst they eat
4. Avoid excessive intake of alcohol before and during meals
5. Ensure they are sitting in the correct position for eating e.g. not lying down

For children:

1. Keep small objects or balloons out of reach from children
2. Supervise mealtimes with them
3. Prevent them from running, walking or playing whilst they eat
4. Watch what they eat – don't give them anything that could easily be lodged in their throat e.g. nuts, chunks of meat, popcorn etc
5. Prevent older children/siblings from giving them dangerous food or toys

For adults, the steps of resuscitation are to give a continuous cycle of 5 back blows then 5 abdominal thrusts. For children/babies, give a continuous cycle of 5 back blows then 5 chest thrusts.

To know how to perform abdominal/chest thrusts properly and with the correct techniques, enrol on our Choking Prevention and Resuscitation Awareness training course.