Lots of eating combined with lots of socialising – that's what Christmas is for most of us.

But talking excitedly or laughing while eating or eating too fast, are some of the most frequent ways people choke. Drinking alcohol, another feature of Bermudian Christmas festivities, also increases the risk of choking because alcohol dulls the nerves that aid swallowing.

Body & Soul spoke with the Bermuda Red Cross to learn how to help someone who is choking.

Patricia Sims, the charity's health and safety coordinator, said many choking deaths occur on a bathroom floor.

"Never let a suspected choking victim go to the bathroom alone," she said. "Very often people who are choking become embarrassed and walk to a bathroom to try and cough. I always follow someone and ensure that they are alright – or you should alert someone else to follow the person if you are unable to."

Ms Sims noted that choking victims who quietly seek privacy often have a total airway obstruction, and die because no one is around to help them.

What should you do if someone is choking? Well, the Red Cross no longer advocates the famous Heimlich manoeuvre. In 2006 it changed its first aid protocol in responding to a choking victim, to five back blows and five abdominal thrusts.

The health and safety coordinator advocate a series of steps which it feels will better aid someone suspected of choking than the Heimlich manoeuvre.

It first recommends asking the person if he or she is okay. If the response is no:

1) Identify yourself and ask permission to help

2) Ask, "Are you choking?" If the response is "yes" and the subject is a woman, next ask "Are you pregnant?"

3) If the subject is pregnant, the abdominal thrusts should be performed in the chest and NOT in the abdomen as this could injure the fetus

4) If the person is able to talk, cough or breathe, you should coax them to cough and help them remain calm

5) If the person becomes unable to talk, cough or breathe, you should immediately stand behind them and provide support by placing one arm across their chest. Next, lean the person forward and firmly strike them between the shoulder blades with the heel of your other hand until the object is dislodged. The act may be repeated up to five times.

6) If the back blows are unsuccessful, you can administer the abdominal thrust until the object is dislodged. This act may also be repeated up to five times.

Ms Sims demonstrated the abdominal thrust procedure with head of the Bermuda Red Cross, Ann Spencer-Arscott, as seen in the photos below.

She stressed that the back blows and abdominal thrusts must be stopped if the person:

1) Becomes unconscious

2) Dislodges the object that was blocking the airway or

3) Resumes normal breathing.

Instruction on how to help a choking victim is covered in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training offered by the Bermuda Red Cross.

The next training sessions start in January. Call the Bermuda Red Cross on 236-8253 for more information.