A guest is choking. What do I do?
The short answer
Step by step
Say a guest at the bar grabs his throat and can’t answer you (illustrative).
- Ask: “Are you choking? Can you speak?”
- Coughing hard and talking? Don’t hit his back. Tell him to keep coughing, and stay close.
- Can’t talk, can’t breathe, weak cough? Point at one person: “Call 911.” Shout for the manager.
- Back blows: stand behind him, support his chest with one arm, lean him forward, and give 5 firm blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.
- Abdominal thrusts: arms around his waist, fist just above the navel and well below the breastbone, other hand over the fist, 5 quick thrusts in and up.
- Repeat 5 and 5 until it comes out or he passes out. If he passes out, lower him to the floor, make sure 911 is called, and start CPR if you’re trained.
Not tax or legal advice, and not medical training. These are the steps MedlinePlus describes for adults and children over 1. A first-aid or CPR class is the way to learn them properly.
Plain English
Get help first
If the person can’t speak or breathe, have someone call 911 right away while first aid starts. MedlinePlus says brain damage can occur in as little as 4 minutes without oxygen.
How to tell someone is choking
MedlinePlus, the National Institutes of Health’s health site, says a choking adult often grabs their throat. Other danger signs:
- Can’t speak
- Trouble breathing, or noisy, high-pitched breathing
- A weak cough that isn’t working
- Skin turning bluish
- Passing out if the blockage isn’t cleared
When not to step in
If the person is coughing forcefully and can speak or breathe, don’t do first aid. A strong cough can clear the object. Encourage them to keep coughing and be ready to act if it gets worse. Don’t reach into a conscious person’s mouth to grab the object.
If the person is pregnant or obese
MedlinePlus says to use chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts: arms around the chest, fist on the middle of the breastbone, firm thrusts backward, 5 at a time, alternating with back blows.
If they pass out
Shout for help and make sure someone has called 911. Lay them on a firm, flat surface and begin CPR. Before giving breaths, look in the mouth; if you can see a loose object, you can take it out, but don’t try to grab something lodged in the throat. Keep going until help arrives or they start breathing.
After it comes out
MedlinePlus says anyone who has choked should see a health care provider, because the choking or the first aid can cause complications. Let your manager handle the incident report.
Common mistakes
- Slapping the back of someone who is still coughing and talking.
- Doing first aid alone without anyone calling 911.
- Reaching into the mouth of a conscious person.
- Letting the guest leave without suggesting they get checked by a doctor.
Official sources
Last verified:
Checked the MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia article on choking in adults and children over 1 year (review date February 10, 2026): signs, back blows, abdominal and chest thrusts, what to do if the person passes out, and when to call 911.
Still open: The MedlinePlus article used here covers adults and children over 1 year; infants aren’t covered on this page. Your restaurant’s emergency plan is not checked here.