Choking Can Be Scary, Especially When You’re Alone, but Acting Quickly Can Save Your Life
Tens of thousands of people choke on food each year. Fortunately, if choking occurs when you're with other people, they can call for emergency medical help while trying to dislodge whatever is blocking your airway. But what happens if you choke while you're alone?
Knowing what to do if you choke and no one is around to help you can be the difference between life and death. It may be hard to remember these tips when a sudden scary situation such as choking occurs, but having this information tucked away in your memory may help save your life.
What to do if you choke when alone
When you're choking, you may feel food stuck in your airway and it may be hard to breathe. You may also not be able to speak or cough much or at all. But even if you can breathe, speak or cough at first, it doesn't mean you're okay. And if you don't take action quickly, you may no longer be able to help yourself so you need to take action quickly.
Here's what to do if you're choking and no one is around to help you:
- Stay as calm as possible. This can be hard to do but if you start to panic, it makes it harder for you to help yourself. It may also make the blockage worse.
- Call 911. When choking, there may only be seconds or minutes before you pass out because you can't breathe. Although you'll need to try to dislodge anything blocking your airway, requesting emergency medical help should be the first thing you do. The 911 dispatcher may also be able to calm you down and give you instructions about what to do until help arrives.
- Do not reach down your throat. You may be tempted to try to reach in to pull out what's stuck, but this will likely push what's stuck in further, making the situation worse.
- Cough forcefully. Some people can dislodge stuck food by coughing as hard as they can. If this doesn't help, you'll need to perform the Heimlich maneuver on yourself to try to get the food out.
- Do the self-Heimlich. Performing the Heimlich on yourself may not be as easy as doing it on someone else, but it can be done. Stand up straight or lean slightly forward if you're sitting. Make a fist with one hand and place it in the center of your abdomen with the thumb facing in, positioning it below your rib cage and above your belly button. Put your other hand under your fist and push upward and inward repeatedly using strong, quick thrusts until the food is dislodged. If you can't push your fist up and in with your other hand, push your fist against the back of a chair or the corner of a countertop.
Choking while alone can be scary, but the calmer you can stay, the more likely you'll be able to take the necessary steps to call for emergency medical help and dislodge the stuck food to open up your airway.
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Date Last Reviewed: November 18, 2024
Editorial Review: Andrea Cohen, Editorial Director, Baldwin Publishing, Inc. Contact Editor
Medical Review: Perry Pitkow, MD
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