In choking in children, what is the first action?

• A. Calm and reassure casualty and parents
• B. Encourage coughing
• C. Give 5 back slaps and recheck their mouth
• D. Give 5 chest thrusts

Answer: (A)

Calming and reassuring the casualty and the parents is the first move because a calm, cooperative child is easier to assess and treat. Panic can make a choking situation worse by increasing distress, crying, and movement, all of which can hinder your ability to judge whether the airway is only partially blocked or completely obstructed and to decide on the next steps. By speaking calmly, you help the child understand what’s happening, reduce fear for the parents, and buy you precious time to quickly assess breathing and coughing. Once the emotional state is settled, you can determine whether they are coughing effectively and can breathe, in which case you encourage coughing, or whether the obstruction is severe enough to require further intervention. The concrete maneuvers that follow (such as back blows or chest thrusts) are not the opening action; they come into play once you’ve stabilized the situation and assessed the airway.