In the hospital cafeteria, what should you do when someone is forcefully coughing?

When an individual is forcefully coughing, it typically indicates that the person is able to move air in and out of their lungs despite potentially choking on an object. Allowing them to cough encourages their body to clear the obstruction naturally, which is the safest and most effective response at that moment. By staying close and observing, you can provide support and quickly react if the situation worsens.

The option of calling for medical assistance may be necessary if the coughing does not resolve or if the person shows signs of distress, but it is not the best immediate action since the individual can still breathe and cough effectively. Administering abdominal thrusts immediately is not advisable because it can cause harm if the person is already able to expel the object. Similarly, encouraging someone to breathe through their nose might disrupt their ability to cough forcefully and could also pose risks if they are in distress.