How To Clear Chest Congestion With History Of Hiatal Hernia?

My husband is 64 yrs old and he was eating beans and cornbread Thursday night and he inhaled as he was laughing and it went into his windpipe I assume because he started choking so hard it brought him to his knees. I ran got him water to try and wash it down since it was to moist to be lodged. He kept saying he got it but I could almost hear it still in the esophagus area. Since this time it started burning like he had indigestion really bad so he has taken Tagamet to no avail, he cannot swallow anything as it hurts really bad to try so im keeping water down him. Now his lungs are filled with congestion and he cannot stop coughing hard. Ive tried to get him to go to urgent care but he refuses. Says he will go to VA dr here in Merced who does nothing but maybe refer him to Fresno, 1 hr. away to VA hospital. Our local hospital does not have good reputation and he will sit there over 5 hours for sure which is why he does not want to go to urgent care as he feels they will only refer him there. Im not sure what I can do to help him until he goes to va tomorrow so Im asking for advice. I think he has injured with the choking and caused maybe this GERD. He had the Hital hernia years ago and they treated with medications