What is the first step when dealing with a choking adult?

When responding to a choking adult, the first step is to bend the casualty over, ensuring that their head is lower than their chest. This position aids gravity in helping dislodge the obstruction from their airway. When a person is choking, their air passage is blocked, and being bent over facilitates the natural expulsion of the object causing the blockage.

While checking the airway is essential during the response to any first aid situation, the initial action specifically for choking involves positioning the victim correctly. This positioning can potentially help clear the airway more effectively immediately. Techniques like abdominal thrusts, backslaps, or any other intervention should follow depending on the severity of the choking situation, but the foremost action is to place the person in a position where gravity can assist in resolving the choking.