By Glenda Shaw

Caring For A Choking - Infant

Pretest

Where do the majority of choking incidents occur?

A. In the homeB. At day care and schoolC.On the playground

_________ is the leading causes of incidental home deaths .

A.house firesB.chokingC.poisoning

Important Facts

• February is American Heart Month• A child with a fully obstructed airway will be

dead in 4-6 minutes without help.• 70 percent of choking deaths among children

age 3 and under were caused by toys.• Balloons are the most common cause of toy-

related choking death among children of all ages.

Outline

• What is Conscious Choking • Types of Airway obstructions• Signs of an obstructed airway• Steps for Caring for an Airway obstructions• Questions or comments

Goals

• Define conscious choking

• Compare and Contrast the two types of airway obstructions

• Demonstrate and perform the steps in providing care for a conscious choking infant

Conscious Choking- An individual which has an obstructed airway and is still alert , but can no longer speak or breath.

Signs of an Obstructed Airway

• Clinching the throat• Anxious• Unable to speak or breath• Slow or rapid breathing

Two Types of Airway obstruction

• Anatomical

• Mechanical

Anatomical

Anatomical airway obstruction occurs if the airway is blocked by the tongue or swollen tissues of the mouth or throat.

Example:The infant’s airway has not fully developed.

Mechanical

A mechanical airway obstruction occurs if the airway is blocked by a foreign object, such as foods or a small toy.

Care for Conscious Choking—Infant

• If an infant cannot breathe, cough or cry, assume the airway is obstructed.

• 5 back blows

• 5 chest thrust

5 back blows

Hold the infant, placing his or her front side along your forearm, stabilizing him or her by holding the face with

your fingers.

5 Chest thrust

Give five quick yet gentle thrusts with your middle and index fingers together on the center of the infant's breastbone.

Repeat Steps until object is dislodged

Q & A• Presented by

Glenda Shaw Virginia College of Montgomery

February 9, 2009 6:00 p.m.