The 2025 American Heart Association guidelines updated the recommended response for severe choking in conscious adults and children. Instead of using abdominal thrusts alone, rescuers should now give 5 back blows followed by 5 abdominal thrusts, repeating that cycle until the object is expelled or the person becomes unresponsive.

This change creates a more consistent and practical approach to choking emergencies. The AHA notes that back blows are now recommended as the initial step for conscious adults with severe foreign-body airway obstruction, followed by abdominal thrusts. If the person becomes unresponsive, CPR should be started.

For CPR training, this update matters because choking emergencies can escalate quickly into cardiac arrest. A simpler, standardized response helps both lay rescuers and trained providers act faster and with more confidence.

References
American Heart Association. Updated CPR guidelines tackle choking response, opioid-related emergencies and a revised Chain of Survival.

American Heart Association. Part 7: Adult Basic Life Support.

American Heart Association. Part 6: Pediatric Basic Life Support.

American Heart Association. Part 1: Executive Summary.