

Save a Life: How to help someone who is choking


Choking is a leading cause of injury and death for children and the elderly.

Doctors say if you see someone choking, the first thing you should do is ask them if they can respond. If they can't, "make a fish tuck in your thumb go just about the belly button then do a hard upward thrust in forcing the air out," one doctor says.

That's for an average adult. For kids, doctors say turn them over and support their weight. Then hold their chin and give them forceful back slaps.

They say to give five hard slaps between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand and don't sweep their mouth with your finger. Doctors say that could make it worse.