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Injury Prevention

Choking

Choking can result in unconsciousness or cardiopulmonary arrest. Additionally, when a child begins to choke, it’s easy to panic. We recommend that every parent take a (Pediatric Basic Life Support) training course to be prepared for choking emergency. Please check our Community Education Calendar for a course that’s offered in your neighborhood.

For children 12 months old or younger:

  1. Calmly sit down with the child in your arms.
  2. Supporting the infant’s head and neck with one hand, lay the infant face down on your thigh. The child’s head will need to be lower than her trunk.
  3. Forcefully but gently, deliver five back blows with the heel of your hand between the infant’s shoulder blades.
  4. Immediately, while still supporting the infant’s head, sandwich the infant between your hands and turn her onto her back. Again, the infant’s head will need to be lower than the trunk.
  5. Using two fingers, deliver five thrusts in the infant’s chest ( finger over breastbone at nipple line ).
  6. Repeat back blows and chest thrusts until item is dislodged.
  7. Continue until object is dislodged or until help arrives.
  8. Call ambulance.
  9. Don’t stick your finger in child’s throat to dislodge object. In most cases, this pushes the item further down the throat.

For anyone older than 12 months:

  1. Use the Heimlich Maneuver.
  2. Call ambulance.
Last Update
May 28, 2008
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Last Update
May 28, 2008
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