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Baby and Child First Aid

First aid for a child who is
choking

Watch the video, in which a child is treated for choking. The information below the video gives you the key steps to helping a child who is choking.  

 

A child who is choking may be clutching at their chest or neck and won’t be able to speak, breathe or cough.

1

Give up to five back blows. Hit them firmly on their back between the shoulder blades. If back blows do not dislodge the object, move on to step two.

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This creates a strong vibration and pressure in the airway, which is often enough to dislodge the blockage. Dislodging the object will allow them to breathe again.

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2

Give up to five abdominal thrusts. Hold the child around the waist and pull upwards and inwards above their belly button. If abdominal thrusts do not dislodge the object, repeat steps one and two.

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Abdominal thrusts squeeze the air out of the lungs and may dislodge the blockage.

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3

Call 999 if the object if the object has not dislodged after three cycles of back blows and abdominal thrusts.

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