When giving abdominal thrusts to a responsive choking victim, where should your hands be positioned?

The correct position for your hands when administering abdominal thrusts to a responsive choking victim is on the abdomen. This technique involves creating pressure below the diaphragm, which can help force air out of the lungs and expel the obstruction causing the choking.

When your hands are placed in the correct location on the abdomen, typically just above the navel, you can effectively perform the thrusts by pulling inwards and upwards. This motion generates the necessary airflow to dislodge whatever is blocking the airway. Proper positioning is crucial for both effectiveness and safety, as placing your hands elsewhere—such as on the chest, throat, or back—would not apply the correct force on the diaphragm nor would it appropriately address the choking emergency. Using the wrong hand placement could either be ineffective or even dangerous for the victim.