Choking Infant First Aid Management: Know the Signs and Life-Saving actions
Choking is silent and can be life threatening. Knowing the signs, symptoms and first aid management of a choking emergency can save a life. This Choking Infant First Aid Fact Sheet will step you through managing a Choking casualty.
If the patient becomes blue, limp or unconscious, follow DRSABCD and call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. Infant is a child under 1 year of age
Signs & Symptoms:
- clutching the throat
- coughing, wheezing, gagging
- difficulty in breathing, speaking or swallowing
- making a whistling or ‘crowing’ noise, or no sound at all
- blue lips, face, earlobes, fingernails
- loss of consciousness
What to do – Chocking Infant First Aid:
- Immediately call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. Stay on the phone.
- Place the choking infant with their head downwards on your forearm, supporting the head and shoulders on your hand.
- Hold the infant’s mouth open with your fingers.
- Give up to 5 sharp blows to the back between the shoulders with the heel of one hand, checking if the blockage has been removed after each blow.
- If the blockage has come loose or been removed, turn the infant into the recovery position and remove any object that may have come loose with your little finger.
- If the blockage has not been removed after 5 back blows, place the infant on their back on a firm surface.
- Place 2 fingers on the lower half of the sternum and give up to 5 chest thrusts, checking if the blockage has been removed after each thrust. Support the infant’s head with the other hand.
- If the blockage has not been removed after 5 thrusts, continue alternating 5 back blows with 5 chest thrusts until medical aid arrives.
- If the choking infant becomes unconscious, start CPR.
In a medical emergency call Triple Zero (000). You could save a life with First Aid Training