Amelia's Mummy
04-29-2008, 04:19 AM
Hopefully you'll never have to deal with a choking child but please read and become familiar with the basic first aid for choking and CRP. I recommend talking an Infant First/Emergency Aid course where a trained professional can demonstate the techniques.
For babies under age 1
Choking
• Step 1: Quickly & Safely Assess The Situation
If your baby begins to make odd noises or no sound at all while opening her mouth and her skin turns bright red or blue, then something may be blocking her airway and you'll need to help her get it out.
Coughing or gagging is a sign that the airway is only partially blocked. In most instances coughing is the most effective way to dislodge a blockage.
If your baby cannot remove the blockage by coughing then ask someone to contact the emergency services and begin giving back blows and chest thrusts. (see step 2)
If you're alone with your baby, give two minutes of care, then contact the emergency services.
If you think that swelling has caused your baby's airway to close then contact the emergency services straight away. Your baby may be having an allergic reaction or an infection, like croup.
Also call right away if your baby is at high risk for heart problems. Try to remain calm at all times.
• Step 2: Attempt To Dislodge The Blockage
If your baby cannot clear the blockage on her own, position her face down across your forearm whilst supporting her head and neck with your hand and rest the arm holding your baby on your thigh.
Hold your baby with her head lower than the rest of her body and using the heel of your hand, give her five firm and distinct back blows between her shoulder blades to try to dislodge the object.
Carefully turn your baby over supporting her head and neck but still keeping her head lower than the rest of her body. Imagine a line running between your baby's nipples and position the pads of two/three fingers just below it. Push straight down in your baby's chest to about 1/2 an inch to an inch depth and allow your baby's chest to naturally come back to the normal position. Repeat this five times.
Alternate between the five back blows and five chest thrusts until your baby begins to cough and the object is forced out.
If she becomes unconscious, she'll need CPR. (See Below)
Give your baby two rescue breathes by placing your mouth over hers and blowing, if her chest doesn't rise then retilt her head and try two rescue breaths again.
If her chest still doesn't rise, give her 30 chest compressions then look into her mouth to see if the blockage has been dislodged. If it has then remove the object. Give her two more rescue breaths, repeat the chest compressions, and so on, until help arrives.
__________
Giving CPR
What is CPR?
CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and is the lifesaving measure you can take until the emergency services arrive to save your baby's life. CPR uses chest compressions and rescue breaths to circulate the blood that contains oxygen to the brain and other vital organs. CRP can help prevent brain damage, which can occur within a few minutes, and death.
• Step 1: Check Your Baby's Condition
Check to see if your baby is conscious by flicking her foot, gently tapping on her shoulder and calling her name. If you don't get a respond, have someone call the emergency services.
Place your baby on a firm surface facing up.and ensure she isn't bleeding severely. You should apply pressure to stop any bleeding as you should not administer CPR until the bleeding is under control.
• Step 2: Open Your Baby's Airway
Tilt your baby's head back and lift her chin up slightly. Quickly check for signs of life following the ABC.
Airways - look inside the mouth for an obstruction
Breathing - place your ear above baby's nose and mouth and listen for breathing whilst looking for raising and falling movements of the chest,
Circulation - feel for a pulse
• Step 3: Give Two Gentle Breaths
If your baby isn't breathing, cover your baby's nose and mouth with your mouth and exhale into her lungs only until you see her chest rise. Give two breathes lasting one second each. You should pause between each breath to allow the air to flow out again. Breathing too hard or too fast can cause damage to a baby's small delicate lungs or force air into her stomach.
• Step 4: Give 30 Chest Compressions
With your baby on her back, place the pads of two/three fingers just below an imaginary line running between your baby's nipples and compress the chest 1/2 to 1 inch.
Give her 30 chest compressions at the rate of 100 per minute followed by two rescue breaths. Repeat untill the emergency services arrive.
Even if your baby resumes breathing before help arrives have a doctor check her over to determine if there was any damage caused and that the blockage was completely removed.
For babies under age 1
Choking
• Step 1: Quickly & Safely Assess The Situation
If your baby begins to make odd noises or no sound at all while opening her mouth and her skin turns bright red or blue, then something may be blocking her airway and you'll need to help her get it out.
Coughing or gagging is a sign that the airway is only partially blocked. In most instances coughing is the most effective way to dislodge a blockage.
If your baby cannot remove the blockage by coughing then ask someone to contact the emergency services and begin giving back blows and chest thrusts. (see step 2)
If you're alone with your baby, give two minutes of care, then contact the emergency services.
If you think that swelling has caused your baby's airway to close then contact the emergency services straight away. Your baby may be having an allergic reaction or an infection, like croup.
Also call right away if your baby is at high risk for heart problems. Try to remain calm at all times.
• Step 2: Attempt To Dislodge The Blockage
If your baby cannot clear the blockage on her own, position her face down across your forearm whilst supporting her head and neck with your hand and rest the arm holding your baby on your thigh.
Hold your baby with her head lower than the rest of her body and using the heel of your hand, give her five firm and distinct back blows between her shoulder blades to try to dislodge the object.
Carefully turn your baby over supporting her head and neck but still keeping her head lower than the rest of her body. Imagine a line running between your baby's nipples and position the pads of two/three fingers just below it. Push straight down in your baby's chest to about 1/2 an inch to an inch depth and allow your baby's chest to naturally come back to the normal position. Repeat this five times.
Alternate between the five back blows and five chest thrusts until your baby begins to cough and the object is forced out.
If she becomes unconscious, she'll need CPR. (See Below)
Give your baby two rescue breathes by placing your mouth over hers and blowing, if her chest doesn't rise then retilt her head and try two rescue breaths again.
If her chest still doesn't rise, give her 30 chest compressions then look into her mouth to see if the blockage has been dislodged. If it has then remove the object. Give her two more rescue breaths, repeat the chest compressions, and so on, until help arrives.
__________
Giving CPR
What is CPR?
CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and is the lifesaving measure you can take until the emergency services arrive to save your baby's life. CPR uses chest compressions and rescue breaths to circulate the blood that contains oxygen to the brain and other vital organs. CRP can help prevent brain damage, which can occur within a few minutes, and death.
• Step 1: Check Your Baby's Condition
Check to see if your baby is conscious by flicking her foot, gently tapping on her shoulder and calling her name. If you don't get a respond, have someone call the emergency services.
Place your baby on a firm surface facing up.and ensure she isn't bleeding severely. You should apply pressure to stop any bleeding as you should not administer CPR until the bleeding is under control.
• Step 2: Open Your Baby's Airway
Tilt your baby's head back and lift her chin up slightly. Quickly check for signs of life following the ABC.
Airways - look inside the mouth for an obstruction
Breathing - place your ear above baby's nose and mouth and listen for breathing whilst looking for raising and falling movements of the chest,
Circulation - feel for a pulse
• Step 3: Give Two Gentle Breaths
If your baby isn't breathing, cover your baby's nose and mouth with your mouth and exhale into her lungs only until you see her chest rise. Give two breathes lasting one second each. You should pause between each breath to allow the air to flow out again. Breathing too hard or too fast can cause damage to a baby's small delicate lungs or force air into her stomach.
• Step 4: Give 30 Chest Compressions
With your baby on her back, place the pads of two/three fingers just below an imaginary line running between your baby's nipples and compress the chest 1/2 to 1 inch.
Give her 30 chest compressions at the rate of 100 per minute followed by two rescue breaths. Repeat untill the emergency services arrive.
Even if your baby resumes breathing before help arrives have a doctor check her over to determine if there was any damage caused and that the blockage was completely removed.