For a partial airway obstruction, what should you do?

• A. Encourage coughing; If food visible, take it out.
• B. Call for help
• C. Perform abdominal thrusts
• D. Place person on back and give rescue breaths

Answer: (A)

When a airway is only partially blocked, the person can still move air and usually can cough to try to clear the obstruction. The best move is to encourage coughing and let the body work to dislodge the object. If you can see the food or object in the mouth and it’s safe to reach, remove it carefully; avoid blind finger sweeps that could push the object deeper. Keep the person upright and stay with them, monitoring breathing and comfort. Abdominal thrusts or rescue breaths are not needed while they can cough effectively; those steps are used for a complete obstruction or if coughing stops and the person cannot breathe. If coughing stops or the person loses ability to speak or breathe, seek help and begin appropriate choking first aid immediately.