Understanding the basics of choking first aid is an essential skill for any parent and our first aid courses in Belfast with help prepare you for an emergency situation. Babies can choke on a variety of items such as food, small toys or household items.
You must call 999 immediately if the baby unresponsive.
The Signs Your Baby is Choking:
- Face is pale
- Lips appear blue
- Coughing with no sound, otherwise known as silent cough
Step 1 – Give Back Blows
Hold the baby, face down along your thigh with their head lower than the rest of their body . It is important to support the baby’s head, jaw and neck. Give up to 5 back blows by hitting their back firmly between the shoulder blades using the heel of your hand.
If the back blows dislodge the object, remove it. If you cannot see the object, do not look for it using your finger as you may end up pushing the object back further.
Back blows are designed to create pressure in the airway which would allow the object to be dislodge, allowing the child to breathe again.
Step 2 – Give Chest Thrusts
Turn the baby upwards so that they are facing you along your thigh. Remember to support their head and neck. Place your index and middle fingers in the middle of their chest, which is the breast bone. Push sharply, up to 5 times.
In doing so, chest thrusts will push air out of the lungs which may dislodge the object.
Step 3 – Call 999 if the Blockage Is Not Clearing
Continue repeating steps 1 and 2 until the blockage is dislodged or until medical assistance arrives or if the child becomes unconscious commence CPR.
It is important to seek medical help even after the blockage is dislodged as there may be remnants of the object or the baby may have been injured during first aid.
Acting fast in these situations is the key and we have paediatric first aid courses in Belfast at Harberry Training that will prepare you for any situation you might face.
