How to Help a Choking Infant

You will learn how to help when an infant is choking. When an infant is choking and suddenly can not breathe or make any sounds, you must act quickly to help get the object out by using back slaps and chest thrusts. Hopefully you will never have to use this information, but it is good to know and possibly save a life. I would recommend attending a training class taught by a certified CPR instructor. When attending a class you will get first hand experience practicing on a manikin.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Pick up the choking infant and begin five back slaps followed by five chest thrusts. To do this sit or kneel and hold the infant facing down on your forearm in an angle position. Support the infant's head and jaw. Give five back slaps with the heel of your hand between the shoulder blades.

2. Flip the infant over, check to see if you see the object. If so, remove object with your finger, if not do not do a blind finger sweep. Remove the clothing around the front of the chest if possible and give the infant five chests thrust using two fingers to push on the breastbone, between the nipples.

3. Repeat the five back slaps and five chest thrust until the object comes out and the infant can breathe, cough, or cry or until the infant stops breathing. If the infant stops breathing, get up and move infant to a elevated surface and begin CPR immediately. Yell for help.
   See my other article, How to use CPR on an infant.

Tips & Warnings

• It's best to be sitting in a chair.
• Try to remain calm.
• Do not use abdominal thrust on an infant. This could injure the infant.
• Do not do a blind finger sweep.

Resources

• Deals & Coupons
• What do do when your Choking