First Aid Choking and Airway Emergencies Questions and Answers

Question 1

You are at a restaurant when you see a person at a nearby table stand up suddenly, clutching their throat with both hands.
They have a panicked look and are unable to speak or cough.
What is the most appropriate immediate action?

Accepted Answer

Ask them "Are you choking?" and if they nod, perform abdominal thrusts.

Answer

Immediately begin chest compressions.

Answer

Encourage them to cough forcefully.

Answer

Give them a glass of water to drink.

Question 2

Which of the following describes the correct first aid procedure for a responsive infant (under 1 year old) who is choking?

Accepted Answer

Hold the infant face down on your forearm and deliver 5 back blows, then turn them over and deliver 5 chest thrusts.

Answer

Perform a blind finger sweep to remove the object.

Answer

Place the infant over your knee and perform abdominal thrusts.

Answer

Hold the infant upright and encourage them to cough.

Question 3

You are performing abdominal thrusts on a conscious adult who is choking. The person suddenly goes limp and becomes unresponsive. What is your immediate next step after carefully lowering them to the ground?

Accepted Answer

Immediately begin CPR, starting with chest compressions.

Answer

Continue performing abdominal thrusts while they are on the ground.

Answer

Check for a pulse for at least 10 seconds before starting CPR.

Answer

Perform a blind finger sweep to find the object.

Question 4

A person appears to be choking but is able to cough forcefully and speak in short phrases. What is the most appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Encourage them to keep coughing and stay with them.

Answer

Immediately deliver 5 firm back blows.

Answer

Perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver).

Answer

Give them a glass of water to help wash the food down.

Question 5

You are providing first aid to a visibly pregnant woman in her third trimester who is experiencing a severe airway obstruction. How should you modify your technique for giving thrusts?

Accepted Answer

Place your hands around the center of the chest and perform chest thrusts.

Answer

Perform thrusts on the upper abdomen, just below the breastbone.

Answer

Lay the person on their back and perform abdominal thrusts.

Answer

No modification is needed; perform standard abdominal thrusts.

Question 6

While providing care to a choking adult, they become unresponsive. You lower them to the floor and start CPR. After the first set of 30 compressions, you open the airway to give breaths. What is a critical step you should take at this moment?

Accepted Answer

Quickly look in the mouth for a visible object before giving breaths.

Answer

Perform a blind finger sweep to check for an object.

Answer

Deliver three rescue breaths instead of two.

Answer

Roll the person onto their side to see if the object will fall out.

You are at a restaurant when you see a person at a nearby table stand up suddenly, clutching their throat with both hands.They have a panicked look and are unable to speak or cough.What is the most appropriate immediate action?

You are at a restaurant when you see a person at a nearby table stand up suddenly, clutching their throat with both hands.
They have a panicked look and are unable to speak or cough.
What is the most appropriate immediate action?