Choking on food when you're home alone? Heart surgeon Dr Jeremy London shares emergency protocol to help clear airways

Dr Jeremy London, a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon, shared an emergency protocol for choking when home alone.

First step: call 911 immediately; most smartphones allow hands-free or one-tap emergency calling.

Second step: cough forcefully to try to dislodge the object by moving more air through airways.

The protocol is designed to buy time while waiting for emergency assistance.