Partial airway blockage: choking signs

The following signs can tell you that a child’s airway is partially blocked:

• loss of voice
• choking noises
• coughing that keeps getting worse
• gagging
• wheezing
• anxiety and agitation
• stridor (a shrill rattling sound)
• sudden chest pain.

Complete airway blockage: choking signs

The following signs can tell you that a child’s airway is completely blocked:

• The child can’t breathe.
• The child can’t make any sounds.
• No air is getting out of the child’s nose and/or mouth.
• The child’s skin goes pale or blue in colour.
• The child starts to lose consciousness quickly.

Choking first aid for airway blockage

If a child is choking and you think she has a blocked airway, phone 000 immediately.

For a baby under one year do the following:

• Lay the baby facing downwards on your forearm or over your thigh – remember to always support baby’s head and neck.
• If the baby is old enough to understand, encourage him to cough.

For a child aged over one year do the following:

• Encourage the child to lean forward.
• Encourage the child to cough while you’re waiting for the ambulance to arrive.