What to do if…
you think you swallowed a fish bone or sharp food and throat pain is worsening

What to do now

1. Check for emergency breathing or choking signs first. If you have trouble breathing, noisy breathing, choking, blue lips, severe distress, or you cannot speak in full sentences, call 999 now.
2. Stop eating. With a possible sharp bone or shard and worsening pain, do not keep testing it with food.
3. If you can swallow comfortably, take only small sips of water. If swallowing water is difficult, painful, or makes you cough or choke, do not force it.
4. Get urgent medical advice using the route for where you are:
   • In England, use NHS 111 online or call 111.
   • In Scotland, call NHS 24 on 111.
   • In Wales, use NHS 111 Wales or call 111.
   • In Northern Ireland, use nidirect health information or local urgent-care arrangements; call 999 for emergency symptoms.
5. Go to A&E now, or call 999 if you cannot get there safely, if you cannot swallow saliva, are drooling, have rapidly worsening or severe throat, neck, or chest pain, have blood in spit or vomit, repeated vomiting, fever, neck swelling, faintness, voice change with worsening symptoms, or any breathing concern.
6. When you speak to urgent care or arrive at A&E, say clearly: “I may have swallowed a fish bone or sharp food, and the throat pain is worsening.”
7. Write down the details while they are fresh: what you ate, when it happened, what you think was swallowed, what has changed, and whether you take blood thinners or have swallowing or oesophagus problems.
8. If you go for care, bring your medicines or a medication list. Do not drive yourself if you feel faint, breathing is affected, or symptoms are progressing.