Heimlich maneuver for an infant (younger than 1 year)
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Heimlich maneuver for an infant (younger than 1 year)
A baby who is choking cannot cough or breathe and may turn blue or dusky. The Heimlich maneuver can help dislodge the food or object.
WARNING: Do not begin the choking rescue procedure unless you are certain that the baby is choking.
- Put the baby face down on your forearm so the baby's head is lower than his or her chest.
- Support the baby's head in your palm, against your thigh. Don't cover the baby's mouth or twist his or her neck.
- To dislodge the object, use the heel of one hand to give back blows between the baby's shoulder blades. Repeat 4 times. See picture A below.
- If the airway remains blocked, support the infant's head and turn his or her face up on your thigh with his or her head pointing toward the floor.
- Place 2 or 3 fingers on the lower part of the baby's breastbone, and give up to 5 upward thrusts. See picture B below.
- Look for the object in the infant's mouth. If you can see it, remove it with your finger. Then give two rescue breaths.
- If the back blows and chest thrusts do not dislodge the object, call 911 or other emergency servicesand begin rescue breathing (see cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR, in the topic Dealing With Emergencies).
- Continue with back blows, chest thrusts, looking for the object, and rescue breaths until the infant coughs up the object and starts breathing on his or her own, or until help arrives.
Picture A
Picture B
Medical Illustration Copyright © 2002 Nucleus Medical Art, Inc. All rights reserved. www.nucleusinc.com
Credits
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine |
| Last Updated | May 1, 2008 |
| Last updated: | May 01, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Reviewed By: | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine, Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine |
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