The first step in choking first aid is recognising that a child has an airway blockage. This guide explains the signs and takes you through what to do when a child is choking.

Partial airway blockage: choking signs

The following signs can tell you that a child’s airway is partially blocked:

• loss of voice
• choking noises
• coughing that keeps getting worse
• gagging
• wheezing
• anxiety and agitation
• stridor (a shrill rattling sound)
• sudden chest pain

Complete airway blockage: choking signs

The following signs can tell you that a child’s airway is completely blocked:

• The child can’t breathe
• The child can’t make any sounds
• No air is getting out of the child’s nose and/or mouth
• The child’s skin goes pale or blue in colour
• The child starts to lose consciousness quickly

Choking first aid for airway blockage

If a child is choking and you think she has a blocked airway, phone 995 immediately.

For a baby under one year do the following:

• Lay the baby facing downwards on your forearm or over your thigh – remember to always support baby’s head and neck.
• If the baby is old enough to understand, encourage him to cough.

For a child aged over one year do the following:

• Encourage the child to lean forward.
• Encourage the child to cough while you’re waiting for the ambulance to arrive.

Explore more

• Choking prevention and choking risks 
• Foreign objects in noses, ears and eyes 
• Preventing strangulation and suffocation