Safety Training Seminars
Safety Training Seminars
When someone starts choking, you have seconds to act. The Heartsaver Adult Choking Algorithm gives you a clear, step-by-step plan that can save lives. This American Heart Association protocol works because it’s simple, systematic, and designed for anyone to use.
Every year, choking kills over 5,000 Americans. Most of these deaths happen at home during meals. The scary truth? Many could be prevented if more people knew the Heartsaver Adult Choking Algorithm.
You don’t need medical training to use this protocol. Teachers, parents, office workers, and restaurant staff have all saved lives using these exact steps. The algorithm works because it follows your body’s natural mechanisms to clear blocked airways.
The Heartsaver Adult Choking Algorithm isn’t just another first aid technique. It’s a research-backed system that tells you exactly what to do, when to do it, and how to do it safely.
This algorithm covers two critical scenarios. First, mild choking where the person can still cough or make sounds. Second, severe choking where they cannot breathe, speak, or cough effectively.
The beauty of this system lies in its simplicity. You assess the situation, encourage coughing if possible, then move through back blows and abdominal thrusts. Each step builds on the last, giving you multiple ways to clear the blockage.
Before you can help someone, you need to spot the signs of severe choking. Look for these warning signals:
The key difference is effectiveness. If they can cough forcefully or speak clearly, don’t interfere. Strong coughing often clears mild obstructions. But if their cough is weak or silent, you need to act immediately.
Ask loudly: “Are you choking?” A person with severe airway blockage cannot answer verbally but may nod their head. They might point to their throat or make the universal choking gesture.
If they can speak or cough forcefully, encourage them to keep coughing. Stay close and watch carefully in case their condition worsens.
Shout for someone to call 911 immediately. If you’re alone, you may need to help first, then call emergency services if the blockage doesn’t clear quickly.
Don’t waste time looking for your phone if the person is turning blue. Every second counts when someone cannot breathe.
Stand to the side and slightly behind the choking person. Place one hand on their chest for support. Lean them forward so gravity helps dislodge the object.
Use the heel of your other hand to give 5 firm back blows between their shoulder blades. Each blow should be separate and forceful enough to move air through the airway.
Check their mouth after each back blow. If you see the object, remove it only if you can grasp it easily. Never do blind finger sweeps—you might push the object deeper.
If back blows don’t work, move behind the person and wrap your arms around their waist. Make a fist with one hand and place it just above their navel, well below the breastbone.
Grab your fist with your other hand. Give 5 quick, upward thrusts. Each thrust should be separate and forceful, aimed at pushing air from the lungs to expel the object.
The motion is up and inward, not just inward. Think of it as trying to lift the person slightly with each thrust.
Keep alternating between 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until:
Don’t give up. People have been successfully revived after several minutes of choking response.
If the choking person becomes unconscious, lower them to the ground carefully. Call 911 if you haven’t already done so.
Begin CPR immediately, starting with chest compressions. Before giving rescue breaths, look in their mouth. Remove any visible objects you can easily grasp.
The chest compressions in CPR can sometimes dislodge objects that abdominal thrusts couldn’t move.
Standard abdominal thrusts don’t work well for pregnant women or significantly obese people. Instead, use chest thrusts.
Place your hands on the lower half of the breastbone, just like you would for CPR chest compressions. Push hard and fast with the same rhythm as abdominal thrusts.
If you’re choking and alone, you can perform abdominal thrusts on yourself. Make a fist and place it above your navel. Use your other hand to push inward and upward.
Alternatively, lean over a firm object like a chair back, table edge, or railing. Position it just above your navel and thrust yourself against it repeatedly.
Call 911 as soon as you can speak or breathe.
Many well-meaning people make critical errors during choking emergencies. Here are the mistakes that can worsen the situation:
Using abdominal thrusts on someone who can still cough effectively. If they’re coughing forcefully, let them continue. Intervention might turn a partial blockage into a complete one.
Improper hand placement for thrusts. Too high (on the chest) can break ribs. Too low (on the abdomen) can damage internal organs. The sweet spot is just above the navel, below the breastbone.
Blind finger sweeps. Only remove objects you can clearly see and easily grasp. Fishing around blindly often pushes objects deeper into the throat.
Giving up too quickly. Continue the algorithm until help arrives or the situation changes. People have recovered after several minutes of intervention.
Forgetting to call for help. Even if you successfully clear the airway, medical evaluation is important, especially if the person lost consciousness.
Successfully clearing someone’s airway doesn’t end your responsibility. The person should receive medical attention even if they seem fine.
Abdominal thrusts can cause internal injuries like ruptured organs or broken ribs. These injuries might not be immediately apparent but can be serious.
Call 911 or encourage the person to see a doctor if they experience:
Healthcare providers need to check for complications and ensure no particles remain in the airway.
Reading about the Heartsaver Adult Choking Algorithm gives you knowledge, but hands-on practice builds the muscle memory you need during real emergencies.
When someone is choking, your stress levels spike. Your heart pounds. Your hands might shake. In these moments, you won’t have time to think through each step carefully. Proper training creates automatic responses that take over when adrenaline hits.
Practice scenarios help you understand how much force to use, proper hand placement, and how to adjust your technique for different body sizes. You’ll learn to stay calm and focused when seconds matter most.
We understand that learning life-saving techniques requires more than just reading instructions. At Safety Training Seminars, we’ve been teaching the Heartsaver Adult Choking Algorithm alongside CPR and first aid skills since 1989.
Our comprehensive American Heart Association Heartsaver courses combine convenient online learning with hands-on practice at one of our 70+ locations throughout California. You’ll work with realistic training mannequins, receive expert feedback, and build the confidence needed to act during real emergencies.
We offer the lowest prices in California, same-day certification cards, and our 100% pass rate guarantee ensures you’ll leave feeling prepared. Our American Heart Association Training Center (license #20784) has earned thousands of five-star reviews from students who appreciated our practical, no-nonsense approach to emergency training.
Whether you need certification for work requirements, want to protect your family, or simply believe in being prepared to help others, we make it easy to get trained. Classes run every day of the week, including evenings and weekends, so you can find a time that fits your schedule.