What to do when a child is choking?

If the child is not coughing but is gasping, turning scarlet and then greyish, with an expression of panic in his eyes, he cannot breathe. Act fast. Open his mouth and put your finger boldly in to the back of his throat in case you can hook the object. If you can make him retch, even better, this may dislodge the object. If this does not work, you could try the ‘Heimlich manouevre.’ Lay him on his side and tilt his head back slightly. Support his back with one hand and place two fingers of your other hand about half way between his navel and the point where the bottom of his ribs forms an inverted V-shape. Press inwards and upwards with a quick thrusting movement.