Infants choking

 Choking - Infant

Infants that are choking are usually caused by accidentally breathing small objects like coins, buttons, or sometimes food that they eat. Being an infant, they cannot think and try to get help, so adult supervision is needed so that every activity done by the infant will be monitored. 

Choking will result in the infant cannot get enough oxygen and if not taken care of fast enough (around 4 minutes) it can cause permanent brain damage. So a rapid first aid for choking can save a life. 

Characteristic of choking baby.

- Cannot talk or scream

- Cannot cry 

- Bluish skin color

- Loss of consciousness (for a long period of time)

What to do?

DO NOT perform these steps if the infant is coughing very hard or has a strong cry. It is how their body naturally tries to clear out the airway passage.

BUT, if the infant is not crying or coughing, then you can follow these steps :

1. Lay the infant on your forearm facing down, with the child's leg between your arm. 

2. Hold the child's chest in your hand and point the infant's head downwards. 

3. Using your palm, give 5 quick, powerful but not too strong that it will injure the infant, on its shoulders blades

IF the object does not come out of the airway after 5 blows :

1. Use other arms to support the baby facing upwards.

2. Place 2 fingers on the middle of the chest

3. Give another 5 thrusts, compressing the chest. 

4. Alternate between these two techniques until the object gets out.