What to Do If You Are Alone and Choking

Choking is terrifying. It happens fast. One second, you’re eating or drinking. The next, you can’t breathe.

What if no one is there to help? You need to act immediately.

Here’s what to do if you’re choking and alone.

Step 1: Stay Calm and Try to Cough

First, don’t panic. Coughing is your body’s natural way to clear the airway. If you can still cough, keep going. A strong, forceful cough may be enough to expel the object.

🚨 If you can’t make a sound, cough, or breathe—your airway is completely blocked. You must take action immediately.

Step 2: Perform Self-Choking Relief

If you can’t breathe, abdominal thrusts can save your life. Since no one is there to help, you’ll need to do them on yourself.

Option 1: Use Your Hands

1️⃣ Make a fist with one hand.
2️⃣ Place it above your belly button and below your ribcage.
3️⃣ Wrap your other hand around your fist.
4️⃣ Push hard and fast inward and upward.
5️⃣ Repeat until the object is forced out.

💡 Tip: Make each thrust as forceful as possible. You are trying to create enough pressure to push the object out.

Option 2: Use a Chair or Hard Surface

If you’re too weak to perform abdominal thrusts with your hands, use a solid object.

1️⃣ Find a chair, counter, or table.
2️⃣ Lean over it, pressing the edge into your upper abdomen.
3️⃣ Push your body down forcefully in a quick, upward motion.
4️⃣ Repeat until the object dislodges.

💡 Why does this work? The pressure from the hard surface acts like abdominal thrusts, forcing air out of your lungs to remove the obstruction.

Step 3: Call 911 If You Can

If you’re still choking and can’t get the object out, call 911. Even if you can’t speak, dispatchers can trace your location.

If you manage to clear your airway but still feel discomfort, seek medical attention. Choking can cause throat injuries that may lead to swelling or complications.

Step 4: Prevent Choking Before It Happens

Choking can happen to anyone, but you can reduce the risk.

✔️ Eat slowly. Take small bites and chew thoroughly.
✔️ Avoid talking or laughing while eating.
✔️ Be cautious with high-risk foods like steak, grapes, and hard candy.
✔️ If you live alone, learn choking relief techniques.

Knowing Choking Relief Can Save Your Life

When you’re alone, you are your own first responder. Knowing what to do can mean the difference between life and death.

Do you feel confident handling an emergency? If not, now is the time to learn.

Take a CPR & Choking Relief Class Today!

At Arise Safety and CPR, we teach life-saving skills that everyone should know. Don’t wait until an emergency happens—be prepared.

📍 Register for a class: Sign up here
📍 Need group training? Visit our website
📍 Have questions? Contact us!
📧 Email: contact@arisesafety.com
📞 Call/Text: 317-961-1480

💙 Be ready. Learn CPR. Save lives. 💙