How to Treat an Unconscious Choking Infant

Posted by Anonymous , 9/4/2007 Tags:TreatUnconsciousChokingInfant
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How to Treat an Unconscious Choking Infant

Introduction

A choking victim can't breathe, which deprives the brain of precious oxygen. Using the following technique could save a life.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Initial Assessment

Steps

1

Step One

Treat for unconscious choking under the following conditions: the choking infant fell unconscious while you were treating for conscious choking, or breaths won't go in during rescue breathing even after you've retilted the head (see Related eHows on rescue breathing).

Tips & Warnings

  • "Infant," for these purposes, refers to people younger than approximately age 1 (for children older than infants, see "How to Treat an Unconscious Choking Adult or Child").

Treatment for Choking

Steps

1

Step One

Hold the infant, placing his or her front side along your forearm, stabilizing him or her by holding the face with your fingers.
2

Step Two

Bend your knee, keeping the lower half of your leg perpendicular to the ground, and making a 45-degree angle between your lower and upper leg.
3

Step Three

Place your forearm - the one that's holding the infant - against your upper leg.
4

Step Four

Give five quick, sharp yet gentle blows to the infant's back, using the heel of your other hand. The blows should land between the infant's shoulder blades.
5

Step Five

Transfer the infant to the other forearm so that his or her back is against it.
6

Step Six

Place the forearm - the one that's holding the infant - against your upper leg, with your leg in the same position as before.
7

Step Seven

Give five quick yet gentle thrusts with your middle and index fingers together on the center of the infant's breastbone.
8

Step Eight

Sweep out the infant's mouth using the technique for an obstructed airway, but only if the obstructing object is visible (see "How to Clear an Obstructed Airway").
9

Step Nine

Tilt the head and give two slow breaths. If the breaths won't go in, re-tilt the head and give two more breaths.
10

Step Ten

Repeat the cycle of back blows, chest thrusts, mouth sweep, head tilt, breaths, head re-tilt and breaths until breaths go in, or until the infant begins breathing on his or her own.
11

Step Eleven

Check for pulse and breathing once breaths go in (see "How to Check Airway, Breathing and Circulation").
12

Step Twelve

Provide CPR or rescue breathing as necessary (see eHows on CPR and rescue breathing).

Tips & Warnings

  • The best way to tell if breaths are going in is to watch the chest: If it rises gently, breaths are going in.
  • For an infant, check for pulse on the underside of the arm, between the shoulder and the elbow.

Overall Tips & Warnings

  • This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.
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