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Choking can be one of the most terrifying situations you can find yourself in – even more so with children, do you know what to do?

Recognition

Choking is characterised by the sudden onset of respiratory distress associated with coughing and gagging. Suspect choking if:

  • The onset is very sudden
  • There are no other signs of illness
  • There are clues to alert the rescuer, for example a history of eating or playing with small items immediately prior to the onset of symptoms

Ineffective cough:

Unable to speak

Quiet or silent cough

Unable to breathe

Cyanosis

Decreasing level of consciousness

Effective cough:

Crying or verbal response to questions

Loud cough

Able to take a breath before coughing

Fully responsive

Refer to Hospital:

Victims who have had abdominal or chest thrusts

Victims you are worried or unsure about

What to do:

For a child aged 1- 18:

  1. Encourage the child to cough
  2. Administer up to 5 back slaps
  3. Perform up to 5 abdominal thrusts

For a baby aged 0-1: 

  1. Administer up to 5 back slaps
  2. Check the mouth to remove any obvious obstructions
  3. Perform up to 5 chest thrusts

Back Slaps

Child aged over one year – bend the child well forward and give up to five blows between the shoulder blades using the heel of your hand. Check the mouth.

Baby/infant less than one year – lay the baby face down along your thigh and support the head. Give up to five blows between the shoulder blades using the heel of your hand.

Abdominal and Chest Thrusts

Child aged over one year – perform abdominal thrusts. Put your arms around the child’s upper abdomen and bend them well forwards. Place your fist between the navel and the bottom of the breastbone and grasp it with your other hand. Pull inwards and upwards sharply up to five times. Stop if the obstruction clears, if not check the mouth and carry on.

Baby/infant less than one year – perform chest thrusts using two fingers in the middle of their chest. Never perform abdominal thrusts on this age group.

Once you’ve done one cycle of back slaps and thrusts if the obstruction has not cleared go for help/call 999. If you have someone with you don’t delay in calling for help