How should you position a conscious choking victim?

Positioning a conscious choking victim involves techniques that encourage them to clear their airway while ensuring their safety and comfort. Encouraging the individual to cough is essential, as coughing is a natural reflex that can help expel the obstruction. Providing back blows can be effective because it creates pressure that may dislodge the object blocking their airway. When a person is conscious and can still breathe, coughing combined with back blows is a recommended method to assist them in removing the obstruction.

Laying a choking victim down and performing CPR is not appropriate while they are still conscious and able to cough, as it does not allow them to effectively use their own efforts to clear the airway. Having them lean back and breathe deeply is also not advisable since it does not support the natural reflex of coughing, which is crucial in this situation. Administering abdominal thrusts should be done with caution, and while it can be effective, it is usually reserved for cases where the individual is unable to cough or breathe adequately. Thus, encouraging coughing while providing back blows is the best approach for a conscious choking victim.