What should I do if my parent chokes at home?

✓ Accepted answer

If your parent is choking, first determine if they can cough, speak, or breathe, as the appropriate response differs based on severity.

• Encourage vigorous coughing if the object is a partial obstruction and they can move air. Do not intervene unless the coughing stops or they struggle to breathe, as attempts to retrieve the object may push it deeper.
• Call 911 immediately if they have a severe obstruction. This is defined by inability to speak, silent or labored breathing, or turning blue/purple around the lips and face.
• Perform the Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrusts) on an adult or older child if the airway is completely blocked. Stand behind them, wrap your arms around their waist, make a fist, and thrust upward and inward into the area above the navel. Repeat up to five times before reassessing.
• Adjust for elderly patients by using a gentler, modified thrust to prevent rib fractures, a significant risk in older adults with osteoporosis. If they become unresponsive, lower them to the ground and begin CPR, starting with chest compressions.
• Address the underlying cause by consulting a speech-language pathologist, as suggested by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, to create a safe feeding plan and reduce the risk of future aspiration events.

admin · 2026-09-30 17:50:41