Jonathan notices a choking woman and should perform which maneuver first?

• A. The Heimlich maneuver
• B. Rescue breaths
• C. Cross-bandaging
• D. Chest compressions

Answer: (A)

When someone is choking but still conscious, the priority is to clear the airway quickly. The Heimlich maneuver, or abdominal thrusts, is used because it creates a sudden increase in pressure in the chest that can dislodge the object blocking the airway, restoring normal breathing. You perform it while the person can respond and cough, and continue until the object is expelled or they become unresponsive.

Rescue breaths aren’t the first action here because if the airway is blocked, providing breaths may not reach the lungs and could push the object deeper. Chest compressions are for unresponsive individuals or those in cardiac arrest, not for a conscious choking person. Cross-bandaging isn’t related to clearing an airway obstruction. If the person becomes unresponsive, call for help and start CPR, checking the mouth for the object and removing it if visible as you open the airway.