When a child or infant is choking, would you know how to help?
The American Heart Association has updated it’s guidelines, something that has not happened since 2020.
It happens so fast, and it’s difficult to not panic. But knowing some simple steps can save a life. There are different recommendations for infants and children. The first step is call 9-1-1. But while you are waiting for help to arrive, you should take immediate action.
If a choking infant or child is not breathing, making any sounds or can’t cry or cough, that’s an emergency.
Here are the steps:
- Use the heal of your free hand to give five, firm back blows between the shoulder blades. This will push air from the lungs helping to force out the object that’s blocking the airway. If the five back blows do not clear the airway, move on to chest thrusts.
- In a chest thrust, use the heal of your hand to push downward on the middle of the chest. Never do abdominal thrusts on an infant. Those can be used on adults and children after back blows.
- Alternate between giving five back blows between the shoulder blades and five abdominal thrusts until the object is forced out and the child can breathe cough or speak or until they become unresponsive.
That’s when CPR is critical.
You can find American Heart Association’s complete instructions on their website.
And experts say any infant or child who receives choking intervention should get checked out by a doctor as soon as possible.
Sign up for our Medical Watch newsletter. This daily update includes important information from WGN’s Dina Bair and the Med Watch team, including, the latest updates from health organizations, in-depth reporting on advancements in medical technology and treatments, as well as personal features related to people in the medical field. Sign up here.
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
