How should you handle a choking infant?

• A. For infants, alternate back blows and chest thrusts if trained for infant choking; if unresponsive, start CPR and call for help.
• B. Choking in infants should be ignored.
• C. Only back blows should be used.
• D. Only chest thrusts should be used.

Answer: (A)

Choking infants need immediate airway-clearing actions that combine back blows and chest thrusts, performed in alternating cycles. This approach uses different directions of force to dislodge the object from the airway while protecting the soft infant ribs and organs.

Start with the infant positioned face-down along your forearm, with the head lower than the chest and the airway kept open. Deliver five firm back blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. If the object isn’t cleared, turn the infant over onto their back and place two fingers on the center of the chest just below the nipple line. Give five chest thrusts, pressing about one third to one half of the chest depth. Repeat the cycle of five back blows and five chest thrusts until the object is expelled or the infant becomes unresponsive.

If the infant becomes unresponsive, lower them to a firm surface, shout for help, and begin CPR, starting with chest compressions. After initial cycles of CPR, check the mouth for the object if you can see it and remove it if possible, then resume CPR.

Why not ignore it: a choking infant can deteriorate rapidly, so prompt action is essential. Why not only back blows or only chest thrusts: using both provides different mechanical forces to help dislodge the object; abdominal ( Heimlich ) maneuvers aren’t used for infants under one year due to risk of injury.