Jump to contentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleElla PickoverTuesday 18 August 2026 02:57 BSTSt John Ambulance: What to do if someone is chokingAround 300 people die from choking in England each year because members of the public lack the knowledge or confidence to intervene, according to St John Ambulance.A poll revealed that only 42 per cent of UK adults know how to perform back blows and abdominal thrusts to assist a choking victim.The survey found 19 per cent of respondents had never heard of abdominal thrusts, whilst 32 per cent did not know choking can become life-threatening within minutes.St John Ambulance has launched its Save a Life September campaign, aiming to teach first-aid skills to half a million people through free demonstrations and online guidance.In fullMost Britons don’t know how to stop someone choking to death, poll findsMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in