What To Do If a Child Is Choking: Houston CPR Expert Demonstrates Lifesaving Steps
- GAIL GOULD
- Feb 26
- 3 min read
A heartbreaking tragedy in Alvin Independent School District has reminded families across Texas how quickly a choking emergency can happen. According to reports, a student at Pomona Elementary School died after choking on a grape during snack time. Despite immediate action from school staff, emergency responders, and medical teams, the child could not be saved.
Moments like these are every parent’s worst nightmare. They also highlight why knowing how to respond to a choking emergency can make the difference between life and death.
Houston CPR instructor Gail Gould, known as the CPR and Safety Lady, recently appeared on KRIV Fox 26 Houston to demonstrate choking relief techniques for children and infants and to help parents understand what to do in those critical moments.
Below are the key lifesaving steps every parent, teacher, and caregiver should know.
Recognizing the Signs of Choking in Children
One of the most important parts of responding to a choking emergency is recognizing when someone is actually choking.
Many people assume choking will be loud or obvious. In reality, true choking is often silent.
Signs of choking include:
• The person cannot speak
• The person cannot cough
• Little or no sound coming from the airway
• Pale or bluish lips
• The universal distress signal: hands clutching the throat
• Difficulty breathing or gasping
If someone is coughing forcefully, speaking, or breathing, they are not choking. In that situation, coughing may clear the airway naturally.
When someone becomes silent and cannot breathe or speak, immediate action is required.
What To Do If a Child Over Age 1 Is Choking
New guidance released in October 2025 updated the recommended choking rescue sequence.
If a child or adult over age one is choking, follow these steps:
1. Confirm the emergency
Ask the person, “Are you choking? Can I help you?”
If they cannot respond or make sounds, begin rescue measures immediately.
2. Give five back blows
Stand behind the person and deliver five firm back slaps between the shoulder blades.
These should be strong, glancing blows designed to dislodge the obstruction.
3. Perform five abdominal thrusts
If the object does not come out, perform five abdominal thrusts (commonly called the Heimlich maneuver).
• Stand behind the person
• Place your fist just above the belly button
• Grasp your fist with your other hand
• Deliver quick inward and upward thrusts
4. Continue alternating
Alternate between:
• Five back blows
• Five abdominal thrusts
Continue until the object is expelled or emergency responders arrive.
How To Help a Choking Infant Under One Year Old
Choking rescue steps are different for babies.
If an infant begins choking:
First confirm choking
If the baby is crying, coughing, or making noise, that is gagging. Allow them to continue clearing their airway.
If the baby becomes silent, pale, or floppy, immediate action is required.
Step 1: Give five back blows
Hold the baby face down with the head lower than the body.
Deliver five firm back blows between the shoulder blades.
Step 2: Give five chest thrusts
Turn the baby face up while supporting the head.
Use two fingers to deliver five chest thrusts in the center of the chest just below the nipple line.
Step 3: Repeat the sequence
Continue alternating:
• Five back blows
• Five chest thrusts
until the object is expelled or help arrives.
Reach out to Gail if you'd like a demonstration: cprandsafetylady@gmail.com
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