Infant Choking

Summary

This video tutorial demonstrates essential techniques for relieving choking in infants, highlighting differences from adult procedures. It emphasizes proper positioning of the infant and careful delivery of up to five back slaps followed by five chest thrusts, all while maintaining the infant's head lower than the chest. The video also outlines steps to take if the infant becomes unresponsive, including starting CPR and checking for any visible obstructions. The importance of calling for help and activating emergency response if conditions do not improve is clearly conveyed, ensuring caregivers are prepared for such critical situations.

Takeaways

• 👶 Choking in infants requires different steps compared to adults.
• 🛑 If an infant is choking severely, ensure their head is lower than their chest.
• 🤲 Support the infant's head and jaw with your hands to avoid compressing their throat.
• 💪 Deliver up to five firm back slaps between the infant's shoulder blades using the heel of your hand.
• 🔄 After back slaps, place your free hand on the infant's back for support and stability.
• 📏 Perform up to five quick downward chest thrusts just below the nipple line.
• ⏳ Repeat the sequence of five back slaps and five chest thrusts until the object is expelled or the infant becomes unresponsive.
• 🚨 If the infant becomes unresponsive, shout for help and initiate CPR on a hard flat surface.
• 👀 Look for the obstructing object each time you open the airway to give breaths.
• ⚠️ Never perform a blind finger sweep; if alone and no improvement occurs, activate the emergency response system.

Q & A

What is the main difference between choking in adults and infants?

The basic principles of relieving choking remain the same, but the steps to relieve an infant from choking differ from those used for adults.

How should an infant be positioned when attempting to relieve choking?

You should sit or kneel with the infant on your lap, holding the infant face down with their head slightly lower than their chest, supported by your forearm.

What should you avoid while supporting an infant's head and throat?

You should avoid compressing the soft tissue of the infant's throat while providing support.

How many back slaps should be administered to an infant during a choking emergency?

You should deliver up to five back slaps between the infant's shoulder blades using the heel of your hand.

What is the purpose of keeping the infant's head lower than their chest?

Keeping the infant's head lower than their chest helps facilitate the removal of the foreign body during choking.

What should be done if the back slaps do not remove the obstruction?

If the back slaps are unsuccessful and the infant becomes unresponsive, you should shout for help, lay the infant on a hard flat surface, and start CPR.

What is the recommended technique for performing chest thrusts on an infant?

You should deliver up to five quick downward chest thrusts just below the nipple line, at a rate of one per second.

What should you do each time you open the airway to give breaths during CPR?

You should look for the obstructing objects at the back of the throat each time you open the airway.

When should you perform a finger sweep to remove an obstruction?

You should perform a finger sweep only if you can see the object obstructing the airway; never perform a blind finger sweep.

What action should be taken if there is no improvement after performing CPR for two minutes?

If there is no improvement after giving five cycles of CPR or performing two minutes of CPR, you should activate the emergency response system.