3. How to Spot the Signs of Choking
- How to Spot the Signs of Choking
Recognizing that someone is choking is the first step toward helping them. If you see any of the following signs, act immediately.
- Inability to breathe or struggling intensely for breath.
- Violent coughing or wheezing sounds.
- Blue or purple color on the lips, fingertips, and nail beds due to lack of oxygen.
- Panic and agitation, especially flailing or thrashing in water.
- Inability to speak or make any sound.
- Clutching the throat with both hands, the universal sign for choking.
- Pink or foamy sputum coughed up, which can be a sign of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema).
- Loss of consciousness as oxygen deprivation worsens.
Knowing the signs is important, but preventing a choking incident before it ever starts is the ultimate goal.