Choking is a significant risk for infants, and it can happen quickly and unexpectedly. As nursing students, understanding how to recognize and respond to choking in infants is crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of the youngest patients. This guide will help you identify the signs of choking and provide step-by-step instructions on how to intervene effectively.
Identifying Choking in Infants
Infants, like all age groups, have their own ways of communicating distress, and recognizing these signals is key. Here are common signs that an infant is choking:
Stiffened Arms: The infant's arms may become rigid, either raised above their head or extended outward with clenched fists or open palms.
Leaning Forward: The infant may lean forward as they struggle to clear their airway.
Strained Coughing: If the airway is partially blocked, the infant might attempt to cough, though the sound may be weak or strained.
Silence and Color Change: If the airway is completely blocked, there will be no sound. The infant’s face may rapidly change color, and they may lose consciousness if the blockage is not cleared.
Immediate Response: Helping a Conscious Choking Infant
Don’t Waste Time—follow these steps quickly and carefully:
Position the Infant:
Crouch down and support the infant's head by sandwiching them between your forearms.
Turn the infant face down, with their head lower than their body, holding them close to your body like a football or clutch.
Rest your forearm with the infant on your thigh, ensuring the head is lower than the feet, with the infant's back facing you.
Deliver Back Blows:
Administer 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades to try to dislodge the object.
Check and Rotate:
If the object isn’t dislodged, support the infant’s head and roll them face-up with your forearm resting on your thigh.
Perform Chest Thrusts:
Place two fingers on the middle of the chest, just below the nipple line, and deliver 5 firm chest thrusts by pressing down about one-third of the depth of the chest.
Repeat:
Continue alternating between 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts until the object is expelled or the infant becomes unconscious.
If the Infant Becomes Unconscious
Initiate CPR:
Place the infant on a firm, flat surface (such as the floor) and begin CPR immediately with 30 chest compressions followed by 2 breaths. This may help dislodge the object.
If you see the object in the infant's mouth, perform a careful finger sweep. Never do a blind finger sweep—only sweep if you can see the object.
Performing a Finger Sweep
Hook: Use your pinkie finger, guiding it along the inside of the cheek and gums to the back of the throat, behind the object.
Roll: Rotate your wrist so that your pinkie finger is positioned under the object.
Flick: Flick the object out quickly and efficiently.
Final Reminders
Protect Yourself: Always ensure your safety first.
Call 911: Emergency services should be contacted immediately in any choking situation.
Don’t Waste Time: Quick action can save lives.
This material is for informational purposes only and references resources from The Canadian Red Cross, Alberta Heart & Stroke Foundation, and Alberta Health Services. It should not replace medical advice or training. For further guidance, consult a physician or accredited safety training facility.
RESOURCES:
Author - Saving Grace Medical Academy Ltd
Jason T
Retired EMT - Heart & Stroke Foundation Senior Instructor