What should you do if you are choking and alone?

When you are choking and alone, calling for help while attempting to perform a self-Heimlich maneuver is critical. This action is essential because it allows you to engage in a potentially lifesaving technique designed to dislodge the object obstructing your airway. Using your hands, you can apply upward pressure to your abdomen just below the ribcage, which can create enough force to expel the object causing the choking.

While trying to cough forcefully can sometimes help clear mild obstructions, if the choking is severe and you are unable to speak or breathe, forceful coughing alone is typically insufficient. Similarly, hitting your back against a wall may not be effective for severe choking and could lead to injury without resolving the airway blockage. Drinking a glass of water, on the other hand, is not advisable in situations of choking as it may worsen the blockage rather than alleviate it. Hence, the action of calling for help while also attempting to perform self-Heimlich is the most appropriate and effective response.