What is the first action to take if someone is choking and cannot breathe?

When someone is choking and cannot breathe, the immediate action should be to administer back blows and abdominal thrusts. This technique is critical because it aims to create enough force to dislodge the object blocking the airway.

Back blows involve giving firm strikes between the shoulder blades with the heel of the hand, which can help to loosen the object. If the obstruction persists, abdominal thrusts (also known as the Heimlich maneuver) are then applied by making quick inward and upward thrusts just above the navel, which can create pressure that may expel the obstruction from the airway.

It's important to address choking urgently, as the person cannot breathe, and if the blockage is not removed quickly, it can lead to unconsciousness or death. While calling for emergency help might be necessary if the situation doesn’t resolve, and performing CPR is essential if the person becomes unresponsive, these actions follow the initial intervention of trying to clear the obstruction. Giving someone water to drink could worsen the situation by potentially pushing the obstruction further down or causing choking on the liquid itself.