What do we do for an infant that is conscious and choking with a complete airway obstruction?
Choking in an infant is usually caused by a small object the baby has placed in its mouth (eg, food, toy, button, coin, or balloon). If the airway obstruction is severe, then back blows followed by chest thrusts are administered to dislodge the object.
When to give CPR to a choking infant?
Do not do back blows or chest thrusts if the choking infant can cry audibly, cough forcefully, or breathe adequately. Do not do back blows or chest thrusts if the infant stops breathing for reasons other than an obstructed airway (eg, asthma, infection, angioedema, head injury). Do give CPR in these cases.
How to treat the choking conscious infant-critical care?
Positioning for Treating Choking Conscious Infant For back blows, place the infant prone along your forearm, using your thigh or lap for support. Hold the infant’s chest in your hand and the jaw with your fingers. Tilt the infant head-downward, such that the head is lower than the body (see figure Back blows—infant).
What should I do if my baby is choking?
Using abdominal thrusts on a baby could damage their internal organs, which are fragile and still developing. If back blows do not dislodge the blockage, you should use chest thrusts instead. Should I try to pull the object out with my fingers?
What’s the best way to give first aid to a choking person?
If the person is choking and can’t talk, cry or laugh forcefully, the American Red Cross recommends a “five-and-five” approach to delivering first aid: Give 5 back blows. Stand to the side and just behind a choking adult. Give 5 abdominal thrusts. Perform five abdominal thrusts (also known as the Heimlich maneuver).
Positioning for Treating Choking Conscious Infant For back blows, place the infant prone along your forearm, using your thigh or lap for support. Hold the infant’s chest in your hand and the jaw with your fingers. Tilt the infant head-downward, such that the head is lower than the body (see figure Back blows—infant).
If the object is not ejected with back blows, turn the infant face-up and give 5 chest thrusts. 5. To give chest thrusts, push down with two to three fingers at the center of the chest as you do for infant CPR. 6.
Do not do back blows or chest thrusts if the choking infant can cry audibly, cough forcefully, or breathe adequately. Do not do back blows or chest thrusts if the infant stops breathing for reasons other than an obstructed airway (eg, asthma, infection, angioedema, head injury). Do give CPR in these cases.
How many back blows do you give to a choking infant?
If you think that there is a conscious choking infant who cannot cough, cry or breathe, you will need to give 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts. Follow these steps: