Choking Response Partner Drill

In pairs, students learn to recognize mild or severe choking and respond: encourage coughing, or alternate back blows and abdominal thrusts, always simulated. The lesson ends with surprise scenes around the room.

How to play

1. Demo (3 min): show the universal choking sign (hands at the throat) and ask, 'Are you choking?' If they cough forcefully, just encourage them to keep coughing.
2. If they can't cough or speak: five back blows between the shoulder blades with the victim leaning forward, then five abdominal thrusts with a fist above the belly button, alternating.
3. Partner practice (5 min): the rescuer sets stance, hand, and fist WITHOUT striking or squeezing, counting out loud. Switch every minute.
4. Explain what to do if the victim becomes unresponsive: lower them to the floor, call 911, and start CPR.
5. Surprise scenes (5 min): everyone walks; on the whistle, students holding a pinnie act out mild (coughing) or severe (silent, hands at throat) choking and their partner responds.
6. Wrap-up (2 min): each pair recites the full sequence.

Rules

• Never give real blows or thrusts; only mark the position.
• If the victim is coughing, don't hit them; encourage coughing.
• Walk, don't run, during surprise scenes.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: practice with the victim seated in a chair.
• Touch sensitivity or autism: practice on a manikin and preview each step.
• Big height difference: the victim kneels on a mat.

Learning goals

• Tell mild choking from severe choking.
• Perform simulated back blows and abdominal thrusts.
• Know what to do if the victim becomes unresponsive.

Teacher tip

Make sure nobody uses real force. The most common error is placing the fist too high, on the ribs; correct it pair by pair.

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