Choking Relief Infants
Modified technique for babies under 1 year with obstructed airway
Step by Step
Lay the infant face down along your forearm or thigh, supporting the head, with the head lower than the chest. Give up to 5 back blows between the shoulder blades. If that fails, turn the infant face up, support the head, and give up to 5 chest thrusts with two fingers on the lower half of the breastbone, just below the nipple line. Check the mouth and remove only obvious objects; do not sweep blindly with a finger. If the object has not cleared, call emergency services and keep alternating 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts. Never use abdominal thrusts on infants. If the infant becomes unresponsive, start infant CPR. Have the infant checked by a doctor even after successful relief.
Related Guides
Choking Relief Adults
Ask: Are you choking? If they can cough, encourage them to keep coughing, as a strong cough is the most effective way to clear the...
Opening the Airway
Before checking breathing on any unresponsive person, open the airway. Kneel beside them, place one hand on the forehead, and two ...
Choking in Pregnancy
For a choking person who is pregnant, in a wheelchair, or too large for abdominal thrusts, use chest thrusts instead. Stand behind...
Severe Bleeding Control
Call emergency services immediately for severe, spurting, or pooling bleeding, and protect yourself with gloves if available. Appl...