If a person starts to choke, usually a piece of food gets stuck in the airway, slap the casualty sharply between their shoulder blades up to four times. Repeat the slaps if necessary. You can also provide Heimlich manoeuvre. This condition is life-threatening. If the obstruction remains in the upper airway, the patient may collapse. Be ready to resuscitate.

In infants up to one year of age, choking can occur after breastfeeding. In children up to three years of age, the most common cause of the airway obstruction is an inhaled piece of food, usually nuts, or a toy.

Place the infant on your knee, their abdomen leaning against your knee, their face down, the head lower then the abdomen. Give four back blows. Be ready to resuscitate.