How To Help An Infant That Chokes

Your infant below the age of 12 months could choke at any time, so it is best to be prepared to handle the situation.

• First assess the situation and ensure whether the oxygen supply is completely or partially cut off. Coughing and gagging are good signs as it means the oxygen is only partially cut off and could be cleared. You need to be definitely concerned if the infant does not make any noise or cries. Also look out for other serious symptoms like lips and fingernails turning blue, clutching at the throat, producing odd and high pitched sounds or unconsciousness.

• Never try to attempt to remove the obstruction by sticking your hand down the infant’s throat; the object could be lodged more deeply or it could damage the baby’s throat.

• It would be best to call for the emergency services by calling US 911 or UK 999 if the baby is choking for a long time; having trained healthcare professionals to deal with it would avoid unconsciousness, brain damage or even death. Calling emergency services immediately is especially important for choking due to a heart condition or allergic reaction.  

• Start rendering first aid by giving support to the head and neck at all times; especially for infants below 12 months. First slide one arm under the baby’s back cradling her/his head and back, then sandwich the baby by placing the other arm firmly along the baby's front securely grasping the baby’s jaw between your thumb and fingers making sure to not cover the airways. Lastly gently flip the baby onto the front keeping her/his head supported by his/her jaws; the head being lower than the rest of the body.

• Perform 5 back blows making sure to use the heel of your hand to firmly hit the baby between shoulder blades; these blows would help create pressure and vibration in the baby's airway to dislodge stuck objects.  If you are not successful it is time to move on to chest thrusts.

• Turn the baby over by using the free arm along the baby’s back and cradling his/her head in your hand to start off on chest thrusts. Next lower the arm supporting the baby's back to rest it against your thighs, ensuring the baby’s head is lower than the rest of the body. To perform the chest thrust place 2 or 3 fingertips at the center of the baby’s chest just below the nipples and  compress the baby’s chest about 11/2 inches each time; repeat 5 chest thrusts. This helps force air out of the baby's lungs and dislodge the object.

• Lastly if the baby loses consciousness it is time to get emergency help and perform CPR.

You would get more details about CPR in an article that would follow.

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