How to Treat an Unconscious Choking Infant

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

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Treatment for Choking

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Initial Assessment

13. 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

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

Who Can Help Sponsored

• How to Lose 30+lbs Guaranteed. Try it Free.

on 11/22/2005 Flare guns are available in many calibers. One of the most common, and easily purchased, is made in 12 gauge. They are available at most Marine and Boating supply stores. Most of these are made of plastic composites (so they won't be subject to rust or corrosion in a damp or salt water environment). Some larger caliber gun kits include a "sub-caliber device" or sleeve which will allow the use of a smaller caliber shell to be fired. Most are manufactured by Orion Signals (formerly Olin). DO NOT PURCHASE A USED OR OLDER OLIN/ORION FLARE GUN! Models manufactured prior to approximately 2000 did not open far enough to accept all 12 guage signal rounds and were subject to a safety recall. Military type launchers can be purchased through a good local gun shop (they may not stock them but can certainly order one for you).