First aid: choking

If your child chokes on a piece of food, her airway can become blocked, she will be unable to get oxygen into her lungs and she may lose consciousness. If the blockage is mild, she will be able to cough, cry and breathe; if severe, she can't cough, breathe or make any sound. Normal breathing may return if she loses consciousness and the muscles relax. If she is not breathing, start resuscitation.

First aid for a baby under one year

1. Lay your baby face down along your forearm, keeping her head low and supporting her head and shoulders on your hand. Give her five sharp blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.
2. Turn your baby face up and look in her mouth. If you can see the obstruction, pick it out with your fingers, but don't put your finger down her throat.
3. If back blows don't work, put two fingers on the lower half of her breastbone (see image), and give five downward thrusts. Check the mouth again. If the blockage hasn't cleared, repeat steps 1 and 2 three times, then call an ambulance. Continue back blows and chest thrusts until help arrives, or the baby is unconscious.

First aid for a child

1. If choking is severe and she can't cough or breathe, help her to bend forwards and give her five sharp blows between her shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. Check her mouth and pick out anything you can see.
2. If that fails, stand behind her and place one fist, thumb inwards against her abdomen, just below the rib cage. Cover it with your other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards. Repeat up to five times. Check mouth again.
3. If this fails, repeat steps 1 and 2 three times, then call an ambulance. Continue back blows and abdominal thrusts until the ambulance arrives, or the child loses consciousness.

Dr Miriam Stoppard

New Babycare
Copyright © 2009 Dorling Kindersley
Text copyright © 2009 Miriam Stoppard

Posted 30.06.2010

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