Choking (Child)

What you should do:

*If the victim is still able to breathe, speak, cry or cough (partial airway obstruction).

• Allow child to find the easiest breathing position. DO NOT thump the victim on the back as the obstruction might go further down the airway.

• If the breathing becomes noisy, call for an ambulance to take the child to hospital for emergency treatment.

*If the victim is unable to breathe, speak, cry or cough (total airway obstruction).

• The child will become unconscious and should be placed faced-down across your lap or lying on one side on the floor. Give up to four back slaps between the shoulder blades, using the heel of your hand.

• If the child still cannot breathe, give up to four chest thrusts. Put one hand on either side of the chest wall, close to the armpits. Give four quick inward thrusts to move some air from the lungs up the airway to shift the foreign object.

• If the child is still not breathing, check the airway to make sure it is clear. If any foreign object is seen or felt at the back of the throat, remove it, using one finger only.

Important Note:

• If the airway is clear and breathing is still absent, begin expired air resuscitation in an attempt to blow air past the obstruction.