Life Hack When You’re Choking While Home Alone

In an interview with BuzzFeed, Dr. Farmer explained a common mistake people make when they’re trying to save themselves from choking. “One mistake is to swallow more food or liquids thinking this will push the lodged item down,” she said.

“It’s important to understand that choking means food is lodged in the airway, such as the larynx or trachea, and it’s preventing air from moving into the lungs. A food impaction is when food is lodged in the swallowing passage or esophagus. When this [food impaction] happens, sometimes drinking a liquid can cause the impacted item to move past the area of blockage. Trying to drink or swallow food while choking can make it worse.”