If a student is choking and cannot speak, what should you do?

• A. Get immediate help and follow trained choking response.
• B. Encourage the student to cough if able.
• C. Look for a nurse after finishing class.
• D. Give them water to swallow.

Answer: (A)

When someone is choking and cannot speak, the airway is blocked and requires immediate action. The best course is to get immediate help and follow the trained choking response. In practice, that means shout for help and begin the rescue maneuvers you’ve been taught (such as abdominal thrusts for a conscious person over 1 year old or chest thrusts if appropriate). If the person becomes unconscious, start CPR and call for emergency services. Waiting or trying to give them water won’t clear the obstruction and can make things worse, and asking them to cough isn’t possible when they can’t speak. Acting quickly with the approved choking protocol is what a trained responder does to resolve the blockage and keep the person safe.