Before giving breaths to an unresponsive choking person, you should take several important preparatory steps to ensure the airway is properly opened and the breaths are effective:
- Assess the victim’s consciousness by gently shaking their shoulder or back and speaking loudly to check for responsiveness. If they do not respond, they are unresponsive and likely choking
- Call for emergency help immediately to get professional assistance on the way
- Perform back blows and abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) first to try to dislodge the obstruction. If the person remains unresponsive after these attempts, prepare to give rescue breaths
- Open the airway properly by tilting the victim’s head back and lifting their chin. This head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver helps open the airway for effective ventilation
- Seal the victim’s mouth by pinching their nose shut with your thumb and index finger, then make a complete seal over their mouth with your own mouth, being careful not to block the nostrils
- Give rescue breaths by blowing into the person’s mouth for about one second and watch for the chest to rise, indicating air is entering the lungs. Remove your mouth and watch for the chest to fall before giving the next breath. Continue giving one breath every five seconds (about 12 breaths per minute)
These steps help ensure that breaths are given safely and effectively without pushing the obstruction further down the airway. Rescue breaths should only be given after other methods (back blows and abdominal thrusts) have failed and the person remains unresponsive and not breathing
