After getting consent and with the victim's level of air diminishing, how do you best provide care for this conscious victim?

The most appropriate response for a conscious victim with diminishing air is to use the combination of back blows and abdominal thrusts. This method is specifically designed for scenarios where a person is choking but still conscious.

By providing 5 back blows, you deliver strong, controlled hits to the person’s back, which can help dislodge an object that may be blocking their airway. If the back blows do not resolve the obstruction, performing 5 abdominal thrusts can effectively apply pressure to the diaphragm, creating intra-abdominal pressure that can help expel the obstruction. This cycle can be repeated until the object is dislodged or the victim loses consciousness, necessitating a different response.

Encouraging the victim to cough forcefully is another appropriate response for mild choking, but in cases where their air supply is diminishing, more direct intervention, such as back blows and abdominal thrusts, is required to manage the obstruction effectively. Similarly, while calling emergency services is crucial in severe situations or if the victim loses consciousness, it should be prioritized in conjunction with providing immediate care rather than as a standalone option. Lastly, administering chest compressions and rescue breaths is an intervention for a non-responsive victim and would not be relevant in this scenario where the victim is still conscious