In choking management, which action is carried out second?

• A. Put the chair up
• B. Clear with aspiration
• C. Make patient lean forward and cough
• D. Check for an object in the airway

Answer: (B)

When someone is choking, the body tries to clear the airway on its own, so the first move is to get them to lean forward and cough, using the cough reflex and gravity to expel the object. If coughing doesn’t relieve the blockage and the airway remains obstructed, the next step is to clear the airway directly with aspiration. In a dental setting, the suction device is the practical tool to remove the foreign object from the mouth or throat quickly, helping restore airflow. After suctioning, reassess breathing and call for help if the obstruction persists. The other actions aren’t the immediate second step because they’re not the direct airway-clearing action that follows an ineffective cough.