Choking (for conscious infant under 1 year)
Alternative names:
Heimlich maneuver - conscious infant
First aid:
- Lay the infant face down along your forearm with the
child's chest in your hand and the jaw between your thumb
and index finger. Use your thigh or lap for support. Keep
the infant's head lower than his or her body.
- Give five quick, forceful blows between the child's shoulder
blades with the palm of your other hand.
- Turn the infant over to be face up on your other arm. Use
your thigh or lap for support. Keep the head lower than
the body.
- Place two fingers on the middle of his breastbone just below
the nipples.
- Give five quick thrusts down, depressing the breast 1/2
to 1 inch each time. Each thrust is a separate attempt to
clear the baby's airway by forcing air out through the windpipe.
- Continue this series of five back blows and five chest thrusts
until the object is dislodged or the baby loses consciousness.
If the baby loses consciousness, administer first aid for
an unconscious infant.
- If the baby begins to have convulsions
or seizures, refer
to first aid for that condition (see convulsion,
first aid).
Do not:
- DO NOT interfere with the infant if he or she can still
cough, breathe, or
cry.
- DO NOT try to grasp the object lodged in the infant's
throat; you may push it farther down.
- DO NOT begin CPR
(if the breathing has stopped) until the airway is cleared.
- DO NOT initiate the first aid steps outlined in this
file until you are certain the infant is actually choking.
If the child cannot cough or cry, or if the coughing
and crying is very weak, then perform the first aid.
Call immediately for emergency medical assistance if:
- You are not alone, have one person call the local emergency
number while another person begins first aid.
- You are alone, shout for help, and begin first aid. Even
if you successfully dislodge the obstruction and the infant
seems fine, call the doctor for further instructions.
Updated Date: 02/09/00
Updated By:J. Gordon Lambert, MD, Associate Medical Director,
Utah Health Informatics and adam.com
editorial
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