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• Summary
• Start Here
• Prevention and Risk Factors
• Treatments and Therapies

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Research

• Journal Articles

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• Children
• Patient Handouts

Summary

Food or small objects can cause choking if they get caught in your throat and block your airway. This keeps oxygen from getting to your lungs and brain. If your brain goes without oxygen for more than four minutes, you could have brain damage or die.

Young children are at an especially high risk of choking. They can choke on foods like hot dogs, nuts and grapes, and on small objects like toy pieces and coins. Keep hazards out of their reach and supervise them when they eat.

When someone is choking, quick action can be lifesaving. Learn how to do back blows, the Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrusts), and CPR.

Start Here

• Choking -- Heimlich Maneuver (American College of Emergency Physicians)
• Choking Prevention and Rescue Tips (National Safety Council)
• Choking: First Aid (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Choking and Strangulation Prevention Tips (Safe Kids Worldwide)
• Choking Prevention (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
• Choosing Safe Toys (Nemours Foundation)
• Household Safety: Preventing Choking (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• Adult First Aid/CPR/AED Ready Reference (American Red Cross) - PDF
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): First Aid (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• CPR for a Baby or Child (American Red Cross)
• CPR for Infants and Children (American College of Emergency Physicians)
• Emergency airway puncture - series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED Ready Reference (American Red Cross) - PDF
• Responding to a Choking Emergency (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
• What to Do About Choking (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Images

• Choking first aid - adult or child over 1 year - series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Choking first aid - infant under 1 year - series -- Part 1 (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Bronchoscopic Management of Central Airway Obstruction in Children after Heart Surgery.
• Article: Are Athletic Coaches Aware of Exercise-Induced Laryngeal Obstruction in Children and...
• Article: Cuff leak test and airway obstruction in mechanically ventilated ICU patients...
• Choking -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• American Red Cross Also in Spanish

Children

• CPR: A Real Lifesaver (For Kids) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Blockage of upper airway (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Choking - unconscious adult or child over 1 year (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Foreign object - inhaled or swallowed (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish