IF YOUR CHILD IS CHOKING
This is a widespread emergency that requires prompt treatment. Babies put everything in their mouths (not just food), and young children tend to run about with food, drink or toys despite their parent’s efforts to stop them.
FOR A BABY
• Lay your baby along your arm and give her five slaps between her shoulder blades.
• Check the mouth to see if the object has been expelled. Remove anything you can see.
• If she is still choking, keep her on her back. Place two fingers on the breastbone and give five sharp downward thrusts (chest thrusts). Check mouth again.
FOR A TODDLER OR YOUNG CHILD
• Encourage your child to cough. Leave him alone until he becomes distressed.
• Give him five sharp slaps on his back between the shoulder blades (back slaps).
• Check his mouth and remove anything you can see.
• Give chest thrusts. Stand behind him, place one hand against his breastbone and the other on top, then pull sharply inwards five times. Check his mouth.
• If he is still choking, place a fist with one hand below his breastbone. Cover your fist with your other hand. Pull sharply upwards and inwards five times (abdominal thrusts). Check his mouth again.
CALL FOR AN AMBULANCE
• Continue a cycle of back slaps, chest thrusts, abdominal thrusts and mouth checks until help arrives.
IF YOUR CHILD BECOMES UNCONSCIOUS
Use the following techniques if your child has choked on an object; otherwise, CALL FOR AN AMBULANCE.
• If he is not breathing. Give up to five breaths of artificial ventilation.
• Check his mouth. If he is still not breathing, turn him onto his side and give him five back slaps between his shoulder blades. Check his mouth again.
• Turn him onto his back again, place the heel of one hand on his breastbone, and give him five downward chest thrusts. Check his mouth again.
• Place the heel of one hand below the breastbone and give five sharp upward thrusts (abdominal thrusts.) Repeat steps 1-4 until help arrives.
