Last Updated on: November 8, 2024
Table of Contents:
Did you know that choking is a leading cause of injury and death in infants? According to a report, more than 12,000 children are treated in emergency rooms annually for food-choking injuries.
Choking can happen quickly, and knowing what to do in these moments can make all the difference. When an infant’s airway becomes blocked, their tiny bodies are especially vulnerable to a lack of oxygen. That’s where infant CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) comes in.
Choking baby CPR is a special technique that helps restore breathing and circulation in a baby whose heart has stopped or who is unable to breathe. Therefore, understanding how to recognize when an infant is choking and how to perform CPR can help save a life in an emergency. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about infant choking CPR in simple, easy-to-follow steps.
CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a lifesaving technique used when someone’s heart stops beating or they can’t breathe properly. Infant CPR for choking is slightly different from how it’s performed on adults because their bodies are smaller and more delicate.
When an infant chokes, their airway becomes blocked, making it difficult or impossible for them to breathe. This can be caused by food, small toys, or other objects getting stuck in their throat. If the blockage isn’t cleared quickly, it can cause brain damage or even death due to a lack of oxygen. Performing CPR can help restart breathing and circulation while you wait for medical professionals to arrive.
Read More: Child CPR: How To Perform CPR on a Child
One sign of a breathing emergency in an infant is the inability to cry or make sounds due to a blocked airway. By knowing the signs, you can act quickly to help the baby before it becomes a more serious emergency. Here are the key signs of choking in an infant:
Infants have the habit of taking random objects in their mouths, which becomes one of the prime reasons for choking in infants. Hence, when you notice an infant choking, you must act quickly but remain calm. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide on how to respond when performing choking infant CPR:
Before starting CPR, gently check if the infant is still conscious. If the baby is coughing or crying, let them try to clear the airway on their own. Encourage coughing but do not interfere unless they show signs of severe choking (e.g., quiet crying, difficulty breathing).
If the baby is having trouble breathing or becomes unconscious, immediately call 911 or ask someone else to do it. The faster emergency services are notified, the better the infant will receive professional help and get their life saved.
For babies under one-year-old, you need to position them correctly before starting any interventions. You can take the following steps:
Once the infant is properly positioned, deliver five firm back blows to help dislodge the object:
If the back blows don’t clear the obstruction, move the baby onto their back and deliver five chest thrusts:
When an infant who is choking becomes unresponsive, it is crucial to act quickly and begin CPR for choking immediately. This intervention can help restore breathing and ensure oxygen continues to flow to the baby’s brain and other vital organs. The following points outline the proper CPR technique to use for an unresponsive choking infant:
First, gently place the baby on their back on a firm, flat surface such as the floor or a table. This will allow you to perform chest compressions and give rescue breaths effectively. Make sure the baby’s head is tilted slightly back to keep the airway open, but don’t tilt it too far, as that could make it harder for air to pass through.
Next, begin performing 30 chest compressions. For this, you need to place two fingers in the center of the baby’s chest, right below the nipple line. You will need to press down about 1 ½ inches deep with each compression. Make sure that you let the chest fully rise back to its normal position between compressions.
In the next steps, you will have to perform chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute, which is about two compressions every second. These chest compressions are critical because the baby isn’t getting oxygen on it while choking.
After 30 chest compressions, check the baby’s airway to see if the object is visible in the mouth. If you can see the object, carefully try to remove it with your finger, but be careful not to push it deeper into the throat. If you don’t see anything, go ahead with rescue breaths.
Once you do not locate any objects, give 2 rescue breaths and cover the baby’s mouth and nose with your mouth, making a complete seal. Then, follow these steps:
Keep performing 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths in cycles. Continue this until one of the following occurs:
Once the infant is breathing normally or the object is dislodged, it may still need medical attention. Choking can damage the airway or lungs, so it’s important to have a doctor check the baby to make sure everything is fine. Even if the baby seems fine, a doctor’s visit is necessary to rule out any complications.
Read More: How to Perform CPR on an Infant (0-1 year old)?
Now that you know what technique you should use to give baby CPR for choking, you need to take certain necessary steps to prevent infant choking. Here are some tips to help reduce the risk:
Choking is a serious emergency for infants, but knowing how to respond can make all the difference. Whether it’s giving back blows, chest thrusts, or performing CPR on an unresponsive infant, every action is crucial to restoring breathing and circulation.
The best way to prepare for an infant choking emergency is to get trained in infant choking CPR. By learning these life-saving skills, you can act confidently and quickly when seconds count. Consider enrolling in a certified infant CPR course today to equip yourself with the knowledge you need to keep your little one safe in case of an emergency.
