A person in the cafeteria begins choking and cannot breathe. What should be your next immediate action after gaining consent?

In the situation where a person is choking and cannot breathe, the immediate action taken after obtaining consent should be to perform abdominal thrusts. This technique is specifically designed to relieve airway obstruction caused by choking.

Abdominal thrusts involve the rescuer making a fist and placing it just above the person's umbilicus, then performing a quick inward and upward thrust. This action generates the necessary pressure to expel the object blocking the airway. The goal is to create enough force to push the diaphragm upward and force air from the lungs, which can dislodge the obstruction.

While back blows can help with minor choking incidents, they are generally not the first-line response for someone who is unable to breathe. Instead, they serve as a secondary measure or adapt well as part of varied maneuvers based on the severity of the obstruction.

Calling for emergency services is critical, but the priority in this instance is to immediately address the choking and attempt to clear the airway first. Performing chest compressions is inappropriate for a conscious person who is choking as it pertains to cardiac arrest rather than addressing airway obstruction.