What immediate action should be taken for a choking adult?

For a choking adult, administering back blows and abdominal thrusts is the appropriate immediate action. This technique, often referred to as the Heimlich maneuver, is intended to create enough pressure in the abdomen to expel the object causing the obstruction from the airway. The procedure begins with the responder standing behind the patient, wrapping their arms around the person, and placing a fist just above the navel to deliver quick, inward, and upward thrusts. This action can help dislodge the blockage, allowing the person to breathe again.

Coughing forcefully can be encouraged in cases of mild obstruction, but immediate action is critical with a complete airway obstruction, making this option less effective in urgent situations. Suctioning the airway is generally not performed in this scenario because it doesn't address the underlying problem of the obstruction itself. Laying the patient down flat would not be advisable as it could worsen the obstruction and impede efforts to clear the airway. Therefore, the combination of back blows and abdominal thrusts is the most effective and life-saving action to take for a choking adult.