A choking adult is conscious with an ineffective cough. What does Resuscitation Council UK advise first?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. Up to five back blows, then up to five abdominal thrusts

  1. Step 1: The cough is ineffective, so the obstruction is severe.
  2. Step 2: The UK sequence is five back blows, then five abdominal thrusts, repeated, with CPR if the patient loses consciousness.
Answer
Up to five back blows, then up to five abdominal thrusts.
Why not the others: Blind finger sweeps of the mouth, followed by chest compressions at once: Blind sweeps can push the object further and compressions are for the unresponsive. An immediate surgical cricothyroidotomy at the bedside in the ward: A surgical airway is a last resort. Up to five abdominal thrusts first, then up to five back blows if needed: The order is reversed; back blows come first.

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