A conscious choking adult or child over 1 year old is found. Which maneuver is appropriate?

• A. Abdominal thrusts (Heimlich) for conscious choking in adults and children over 1 year
• B. Back blows only
• C. Restrain the patient
• D. Give rescue breaths only

Answer: (A)

When an adult or child over 1 year is conscious and choking, the appropriate maneuver is abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich maneuver). This technique creates a rapid increase in chest pressure that can force the obstructing object out of the airway while the person can still respond. Back blows alone are not sufficient for a conscious choking adult or child in this scenario, and giving rescue breaths only won’t relieve the blockage and may push the object deeper. Restraining the patient isn’t helpful and can cause harm. If the obstruction isn’t relieved after a few thrusts and the person becomes unresponsive, transition to CPR with chest compressions and check the mouth for the object if it becomes visible.