If you’re referring to that headline, the advice is real and potentially lifesaving. If you are alone and truly choking—you cannot breathe, speak, or cough forcefully—call your local emergency number immediately, then try to dislodge the food yourself. (Red Cross)
What to do if you’re alone
- Call emergency services first. Put the phone on speaker if possible.
- Make a fist and place it just above your navel.
- Grasp your fist with your other hand.
- Bend forward over a firm, blunt surface, such as a countertop or the back of a sturdy chair.
- Drive your fist inward and upward with a strong thrust.
- Repeat until the obstruction comes out or help arrives. (Mayo Clinic)
The American Red Cross also says an adult choking alone can press the abdomen against a firm object, provided it has no sharp edge or corner. (Red Cross)
Don’t put your fingers into your throat blindly trying to find the food—you can push the obstruction farther down. If you can cough forcefully, keep coughing rather than performing thrusts. (Red Cross)
If the person becomes unconscious, CPR and emergency medical care are required. (Mayo Clinic)
If this is happening right now, call your local emergency number immediately rather than continuing to read.
