What should you check first if someone is choking?

When responding to a choking incident, the first step is to check for responsiveness. This is crucial because it determines the immediate course of action. If the person is responsive, you can ask them if they are choking or guide them to cough, which may help dislodge the object blocking their airway.

If the person is unresponsive, it indicates a severe emergency that requires urgent intervention, such as initiating basic life support measures. Knowing the person's responsiveness helps prioritize actions, such as calling for help or performing the Heimlich maneuver if they cannot breathe or speak.

Assessing for a pulse, checking for a clear airway directly, or looking for visible injuries might follow if the person is non-responsive, but these actions are not the first step. The primary focus should always begin by determining if the individual is conscious and able to respond to you. This foundational assessment guides all subsequent actions in a choking emergency.