When someone is choking you should first ask?

You should ask them if they are choking. Encourage them to keep coughing - as long as they are able to cough, they are able to get some air and may be able to dispel the object without your help. If they are not able to cough, and if you know how to perform abdominal thrust maneuvers to try to dislodge the object, you should also ask them if you can help them before making any attempts.