First Aid Tips for when a Baby is Choking

Tips from St. John Ambulance for When a Baby is Choking.

It's feeding time for your baby. Everything is going down smoothly — at least most of it — when suddenly your youngster is having trouble breathing. The infant is coughing, gagging and gasping with high-pitched, noisy breathing. Fear races through your body. Your heart is pounding. You scream for help — "my baby is choking!"

Now what? You're at home alone, not dressed to go out. There is no time to rush to the hospital. Your baby needs help now. What can you do?

St. John Ambulance, Canada's first aid authority for more than a century, offers these tips.

1. Assess your baby's condition. If the child can cough with enough force to dislodge the blockage, encourage the infant to try to cough out the object.

2. If the blockage persists, you will have to administer back blows and chest thrusts.

3. Gently turn the infant on to its stomach, keeping the head lower than the stomach.

4. Apply five short, quick back blows with the heel of your hand to just below and between the shoulder blades.

5. Now, roll the baby face up and give five chest thrusts — using two fingers to press down firmly.

What is a chest thrust? How do you give one safely and effectively? These are questions that will be answered taking St. John Ambulance first aid training. For details, see the St. John office nearest you or check us out online at www.sja.ca.

Tips provided by St. John Ambulance (NC)

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