A baby (under 1 year of age) choking is every parent's nightmare, but knowing what to do will allow you to respond quickly if it occurs. Although the Heimlich maneuver is used for choking adults or older children, it's actually "not" done on babies - instead, do a few strokes with the baby in a prone position.
Step
Part 1 of 2: React Quickly
Step 1. Check if the baby can cough
The first thing to do when you see your baby is having trouble breathing is to check if he can cough or make noises. If you can cough violently, allow your baby to cough to try to clear the blockage that is blocking breathing. If you are concerned about his breathing and your baby is unable to clear the blockage through coughing, call for emergency medical help immediately.
Do not Try to do the following steps to clear the blockage if the baby can be forced to cough or cry loudly. Instead, keep an eye on the baby until the blockage has cleared. Be prepared to act if symptoms worsen and last for a long time.
Step 2. Check if the baby is still breathing
Immediately check if the baby is still breathing if he can not cough, cry or make any sound at all. Danger signs of choking include a weak and ineffective baby coughing, or only making a soft, high-pitched sound when breathing in. See if the baby's face turns pale blue, loses consciousness, or waves his hands desperately without making a sound; immediately check to see if the baby's chest seems to move up and down, then listen for the sound of his breathing.
- The blockage can be removed if the object stuck in the baby's throat or mouth can be seen and reached easily, but don't feel it in the baby's throat. The blockage risks being pushed even deeper.
- Do not attempt to pick up and pull on the blockage if the baby is still conscious.
- If the baby is unconscious, remove any visible object from his mouth and perform CPR until an ambulance arrives. Be aware that there may be resistance to pumping at the start of CPR until the blockage is removed.
Step 3. Call emergency services
Call emergency services immediately before administering first aid if the baby is choking. If possible, ask someone else to call emergency services while you are trying to clear a blocked airway. If you are alone, ask for help but don't leave the baby and be sure to continue to provide first aid. Always call the doctor after the baby chokes. Do this even if the blockage has cleared and the baby seems to be breathing normally.
Part 2 of 2: Removing Blockages from the Respiratory Tract
Step 1. Get ready to hit the back
If the baby has difficulty or has stopped breathing, act immediately to remove the object that is blocking the airway. The first technique that can be used is the back stroke. Turn baby on your lap to do a back stroke. Hold the baby in the prone position firmly and make sure to support the head. The front of the baby's body should rest firmly on your arm, and the thighs can be used to support it.
- Make sure not to block the baby's mouth or twist his neck.
- The baby's head should be slightly lower than the chest.
Step 2. Perform five strong back strokes
Hit the baby's back firmly but gently five times after adjusting the position. Slap the baby's back, between the shoulder blades, using the heel of your hand five times. After five slaps, stop and examine the baby's mouth to see if the blockage has cleared. If the blockage can be reached and clearly seen, remove it carefully. Don't try to remove the blockage by hand if you risk pushing it further.
Perform chest thrusts if the baby's airway is still blocked after five back strokes
Step 3. Be prepared to squeeze the baby's chest
If your baby is coughing and crying, this is a good sign because some of the air is getting into his lungs. Back strokes don't work if the baby doesn't cry afterward and the blockage doesn't appear to be coming out yet. In that case, it's time to do chest thrusts. Lay the baby on his back on the lap, with the head lower than the body. Use thighs or laps as support and make sure to support baby's head.
Step 4. Push on the baby's chest
After the baby is laid and supported on the thighs, do five chest thrusts. Place two fingers above the center of the baby's breastbone, just below the nipple, or about a finger below it. Then, squeeze the baby's chest five times. The force used should be able to compress between 1/3 or 1/2 of the depth of the baby's chest.
- Check to see if the blockage has come out and if it's easy to grab and remove, but again, don't risk pushing it any further.
- Continue to do backstrokes and chest thrusts in this round/count until the blockage clears or help arrives.
- If the object doesn't come out after three rounds of back blows and chest thrusts, be sure to call emergency services immediately if you haven't already.
Step 5. Observe the baby once the airway is no longer blocked
Even after the object that is blocking the respiratory tract is out, the baby must continue to be watched. It is possible that some of the substance causing the blockage is still left in the baby's respiratory tract and causes problems later in life. Take your child to visit the doctor, the nearest hospital, or the ER.
Tips
- Continue to make efforts to clear the airways until emergency help arrives. Do not give up.
- Try asking someone to call the emergency number in your country (eg 118 in Indonesia, 911 in the United States, 000 in Australia, and 999 in the UK) while trying to clear the blockage from the baby's airway. If no one else is around, call emergency services immediately when you notice the baby is choking, but do not leave him alone. Making calls on loudspeaker can help in these situations so you can talk to emergency services while trying to clear the baby's airways at the same time.
- Try to stay calm; staying calm is the best chance of successfully helping the baby effectively.
Warning
- Never perform these actions on a baby who is not choking.
- Do not apply tummy tuck (true Heimlich maneuver) to infants under one year of age.
