---
title: What to Do if Your Child is Choking
description: Learn life-saving steps to help a choking child, recognize signs, and prevent future incidents with this essential guide from OneShare Health.
---

[One Share, One Voice | OneShare Health Blog ](https://blog.onesharehealth.com)

# [What to Do if Your Child is Choking](https://blog.onesharehealth.com/what-to-do-when-your-child-is-choking)

 Written by [OneShare Health](https://blog.onesharehealth.com/author/oneshare-health) | 4:30 PM on October 7, 2024

A choking child is every parent’s worst nightmare. Acting quickly and confidently can save their life, but do you know what to do in the moment? Whether it's a piece of food or a small toy, knowing the steps to take when a child is choking is critical.

## Recognizing the Signs of Choking

Before taking action, it’s important to recognize when a child is truly choking. Look for these common signs:

- **Unable to Breathe or Speak**: The child may clutch their throat, struggle to breathe, or be unable to speak.
- **Coughing or Gagging**: A forceful cough may indicate a partial blockage. A weak cough or no cough at all is a serious sign of full blockage.
- **Turning Blue**: The skin around the lips may turn bluish due to lack of oxygen.
- **Panicked or Distressed Behavior**: In extreme cases, the child may look wide-eyed and panicked or be completely unresponsive.

## Steps to Take if Your Child is Choking

If your child is choking and unable to breathe, follow these steps:

1. **Stay Calm**: Your reaction will influence your child’s. Take a deep breath and act quickly but confidently.
2. **Encourage Coughing**: If the child is still coughing, encourage them to continue. This is their body’s natural way of trying to clear the obstruction.
3. **Perform Back Blows**: If the child cannot clear the blockage, bend them forward and give five firm back blows between the shoulder blades using the heel of your hand.
4. **Perform Abdominal Thrusts (Heimlich Maneuver)**: If back blows don’t work, perform abdominal thrusts by standing behind the child, placing a fist just above their belly button, and pulling in and up sharply. Repeat up to five times.
5. **Alternate Between Back Blows and Thrusts**: Continue alternating between five back blows and five abdominal thrusts until the object is dislodged or emergency help arrives.
6. **Call 911**: If the object is not dislodged quickly, call 911 immediately and continue performing first aid until help arrives.

## When to Seek Medical Attention

Even if the choking object is dislodged, it’s a good idea to get medical attention afterward. A piece of the object could still be in the airway, or there could be damage from the choking event. Always consult a healthcare professional after a serious choking incident.

## Preventing Future Choking Incidents

[Prevention is key](/tips-to-prepare-for-medical-emergencies%3Eprepare%20for%20medical%20emergencies) to avoiding the panic of a choking child. Here are a few tips to reduce the risk:

- **Cut Food into Small Pieces**: Make sure food is cut into small, manageable bites.
- **Avoid Dangerous Foods**: Be cautious with high-risk foods like whole grapes, hot dogs, and hard candy.
- **Supervise Mealtime**: Always watch children during meals and encourage them to sit while eating.
- **Keep Small Objects Out of Reach**: Toys and household items that can fit into a child’s mouth should be kept out of reach.

## Find Peace of Mind and Protection with the OneShare Health Community

Are you looking for affordable health care options for your family? Protect your family with the support of a community that shares your values. By becoming a **OneShare Health Member**, you gain access to affordable Health Care Sharing Programs that can help with eligible medical expenses, including [catastrophic](https://www.onesharehealth.com/en/catastrophic) events like the above. With flexible and affordable monthly contributions, OneShare Health provides a cost-effective way to ensure your family is cared for.

[**Join OneShare Health today**](https://www.onesharehealth.com/en/memberships) and experience the peace of mind that comes from being part of a supportive Healthcare Sharing Ministry.

[View full post](https://blog.onesharehealth.com/what-to-do-when-your-child-is-choking)

```json
{
  "@context" : "http://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "OneShare Health"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2026-07-11T01:02:39.103Z",
  "datePublished" : "2024-10-07T16:30:00Z",
  "headline" : "What to Do if Your Child is Choking",
  "image" : {
    "@type" : "ImageObject",
    "height" : 768,
    "url" : "https://www.onesharehealth.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/A%20parent%20comforting%20a%20child%2c%20with%20medical%20supplies%20in%20the%20background.jpeg",
    "width" : 1344
  },
  "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://blog.onesharehealth.com/what-to-do-when-your-child-is-choking",
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "height" : 60.0,
      "url" : "https://www.onesharehealth.com/hubfs/Producer%20Marketing%20Kit%20-%20Public%20Link/Logos%20and%20Branding/OneShare%20Health%20Blue%20and%20Orange%20Logo.png",
      "width" : 230.17902
    },
    "name" : "One Share, One Voice Blog"
  }
}
```