What is the correct action to take for abdominal thrusts when helping a choking adult or child?

The appropriate action for administering abdominal thrusts to assist a choking adult or child involves positioning yourself effectively. Standing or kneeling behind the victim is crucial because it allows you to apply the necessary force to dislodge an object blocking the airway. This positioning also maintains the safety and stability of both the rescuer and the choking individual.

When standing behind the person, you can wrap your arms around their waist. This position enables you to deliver the thrusts effectively by using your body weight to generate enough pressure against the diaphragm, facilitating the expulsion of the obstructing object. Proper positioning is fundamental for the efficacy and safety of the maneuver.

Other actions, such as performing chest thrusts immediately or using thrusts only for infants, do not apply to this scenario of a choking adult or child. Additionally, pressing down on the abdomen with both hands is not a correct method for performing abdominal thrusts; in fact, the proper technique involves upward thrusts rather than downward pressure in order to create the necessary force to relieve choking.