West Coast EMT Block One Exam

In a choking situation, what is the most effective immediate intervention?

1. Encourage the person to cough.

2. Perform abdominal thrusts.

3. Provide sips of water.

4. Administer high-flow oxygen.

The correct answer is: Perform abdominal thrusts.

Performing abdominal thrusts is the most effective immediate intervention in a choking situation because it can help expel a foreign object blocking the airway. This maneuver creates increased pressure within the abdomen, which forces air upward against the diaphragm and into the lungs, potentially dislodging the obstruction. While encouraging the person to cough may be appropriate for mild choking cases where the person can still breathe and speak, it is not sufficient for severe choking, which requires immediate action to prevent asphyxiation. Providing sips of water can worsen the situation, as it may lead to further blockage. Administering high-flow oxygen is not an appropriate first response because the priority is to clear the airway obstruction to restore adequate breathing before addressing oxygenation issues. Hence, abdominal thrusts directly target the critical need to save the person's life by clearing the airway effectively.