Aim of the course

The course aims to give learners the knowledge and confidence to recognise an adult who is choking, distinguish an effective cough from a severe airway obstruction and take immediate, appropriate action while emergency assistance is arranged.

It also promotes proactive risk reduction, safer mealtime support, clear communication, incident reporting and appropriate monitoring following a choking event.

Scope of the course

This course is designed for care workers, healthcare assistants, support workers, nurses, catering staff, activity staff, agency workers and others who may support adults in health and social care settings.

It covers choking recognition, immediate first-aid actions, emergency escalation, risk factors, prevention and post-incident responsibilities. It also considers adults who may require adapted techniques, including pregnant people and individuals whose abdomen cannot be encircled safely.

This is an awareness course. Online completion alone does not demonstrate practical competence in back blows, thrusts, CPR or emergency response. Where required by the learner’s role, it should be supported by practical demonstration, supervised practice and workplace competency assessment.

Topics covered

The course covers:

1. The meaning of choking and foreign-body airway obstruction.
2. The difference between partial and complete airway obstruction.
3. Common causes and risk factors for adult choking.
4. Adults who may have an increased choking risk.
5. Recognising mild choking and an effective cough.
6. Recognising severe choking and an ineffective cough.
7. Immediate assessment and communication with the person.
8. Encouraging effective coughing.
9. Delivering up to five back blows.
10. Delivering up to five abdominal thrusts when appropriate.
11. Alternating back blows and abdominal thrusts when the obstruction remains.
12. Modified action for pregnancy or when the abdomen cannot be encircled.
13. Calling 999 and obtaining additional help.
14. Responding if the person becomes unresponsive.
15. Starting CPR when the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally.
16. Avoiding blind finger sweeps and other unsafe actions.
17. Post-incident medical evaluation and monitoring.
18. Choking-risk reduction during eating, drinking and medication administration.
19. Workplace reporting, documentation and review.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, learners should be able to:

1. Define adult choking and foreign-body airway obstruction.
2. Explain the difference between an effective and ineffective cough.
3. Identify common causes and factors that increase choking risk.
4. Recognise the signs of partial and severe airway obstruction.
5. Describe how to assess whether an adult is choking.
6. Explain when the person should be encouraged to continue coughing.
7. Describe how to position an adult safely for back blows.
8. Explain how to deliver up to five effective back blows.
9. Describe when and how abdominal thrusts are used.
10. Explain when chest thrusts may be required instead of abdominal thrusts.
11. State when 999 should be called and what information should be provided.
12. Explain what to do if the obstruction is not relieved.
13. Describe the response when the person becomes unresponsive.
14. Recognise why blind finger sweeps and inappropriate interventions must be avoided.
15. Explain why medical evaluation may be required following abdominal thrusts or chest compressions.
16. Identify practical measures that can reduce choking risks.
17. Describe workplace reporting, documentation and post-incident review requirements.

The emergency sequence reflects the Resuscitation Council UK 2025 First Aid Guidelines and its adult choking algorithm.