What should you do if you start choking while driving?
When I was a kid, I loved Jolly Ranchers. I would scarf them down and revel in the fruity nom-nom-ness. One day when I was five, I choked on one. An apple one, to be exact. To this day, I eat them with caution, and make sure that I sit very still for the entire duration of consumption.
Well, until a few days ago. I really needed sugar so I popped one in my mouth while I was driving. That ever-present fear of choking on one remained, but luckily no harm was done. (Thank You, Lord!)
But it did get me thinking… what do you do if you start choking while driving? Pull over? Purposefully crash into a car or a wall to get people’s attention? Stop in the middle of the road and cause a ruckus so that people will see that you need help? Wave your arms frantically?
A quick Google search brought me to an infographic that covered the “10 Worst Case Trucking Scenarios and How to Survive Them” … which included choking! Why, thank you! (And I’m sure you don’t need to be a trucker to use these tips.)
Photo courtesy of Overdrive
I think it’s safe to say, the moment you feel the object get lodged into your windpipes, pull over. If you’re in a middle lane, or it’s dire and you just can’t even think, please stop driving. Stop the vehicle and put on your hazard lights. People might honk and be mean, but your life is on the line, and that’s worth ruffling some impatient people’s feathers, in my opinion.
Check out the rest of the infographic here for some other tips. Drive safe, folks!
