How should you address a conscious choking adult on board?

• A. If trained and not pregnant, perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich); if unable, seek medical help and provide back blows if appropriate.
• B. Give them water and ignore choking.
• C. Restrain the person and carry them to the back of the cabin.
• D. Start chest compressions.

Answer: (A)

When a conscious choking adult needs airway relief, the aim is to dislodge the blockage quickly with a maneuver that increases air pressure to push the object out. For an adult who is not pregnant, abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich maneuver) are the standard first step: stand behind them, wrap your arms around the upper abdomen, make a fist with one hand, place it above the navel, and deliver quick inward and upward thrusts to drive air from the lungs and expel the obstruction. If you can’t perform abdominal thrusts or the object doesn’t come out, back blows can be used to strike the upper back with the heel of your hand to help dislodge the blockage. Remember to seek medical help promptly. Do not offer water or other liquids, as they won’t clear the airway and can complicate the situation. Do not restrain the person or move them unnecessarily. Chest compressions are not initiated while a person is conscious choking; they’re reserved for when the person becomes unresponsive and CPR is needed.