How can someone usually tell when another person is choking?

When someone is choking, one of the most immediate and recognizable signs is that they will often instinctively hold their hand to their throat. This gesture is a natural response to the sensation of something obstructing the airway and signals to those around them that they are in distress. It is an indication that the person is struggling to breathe and trying to communicate their discomfort or inability to swallow.

The other signs, while they may occur in some choking scenarios, are not as reliable or immediate. For instance, not every choking incident will lead to the person turning blue right away, and it might take time for changes in color to become evident, especially depending on how severe the choking is. Stopping breathing completely could occur in severe cases, but it doesn't happen instantly, and there may be critical moments prior to that where the person can still respond. Crying is typically impossible during choking, as the person cannot inhale adequately to produce sound. Therefore, the action of holding the throat serves as the clearest and most immediate indicator of choking.