First Aid for Children
Choking is when something gets stuck in the throat or windpipe. Common items include food, toys and other objects.
A child can have their windpipe partially or completely blocked. Both situations are serious and require immediate attention. Lack of oxygen can cause brain damage in as little as 4 minutes.
This page, First Aid for Chidren - Choking (conscious and unconscious), is available as a PDF download.
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You can download that here.
Signs of Choking
The universal sign for choking is grabbing at the throat
Difficulty breathing
Weak coughing
Turning blue
Noisy breathing
Loss of consciousness (how to deal with this is discussed further down on this page)
Causes
Eating to fast or laughing while eating. Not chewing food properly
Unconscious persons may choke on vomit
Children inhaling small objects
Trauma to the head can cause choking due to swelling and blood
First Aid Treatment
You will need to learn the Heimlich Maneuver. We will teach you that here. There are 2 techniques one for adults (and children over the age of one) the other for children under the age of one.
You will also need to know what to do if the patient is unconscious. Below is the heimlich for a conscious patient.
Click here for how to treat an unconscious patient.
Heimlich Maneuver
Conscious - Adults (and children over the age of one)
If the patient can breathe, speak and cough DO NOT interfere. If they cannot breath, cough or speak begin the Heimlich Maneuver... Stand behind the patient Make a fist and place it below the rib cage and above the navel of the patient Grasp fist with your other hand Give 6 to 10 quick sharp thrusts backward and upward If patient is obese place thumb of left fist against breast bone not below the rib cage. Grasp fist with right hand and squeeze quickly 4 times Continue uninterrupted until object is dislodged or help arrives When object dislodges seek medical help to prevent complications that can arise from choking or from the first aid provided
Watch the Video
Watch the Video
Conscious - Children under the age of one
DO NOT perform these steps if the child is coughing forcefully or has a strong cry - this can dislodge the object on it's own DO NOT try to grasp of pull out the object if the choking child is conscious DO NOT perform these steps if the child has stopped breathing for other reasons such as asthma, allergic relations, infections or a blow to the head Lay the child face down along your forearm, thigh or your lap Hold child's chest in your hand Lower the child's head lower then its body Give 5 sharp blows to the back between the shoulder blades. Use the heel of your hand If the object does not dislodge itself Turn child face up Place two fingers in the middle of the breast bone between the nipples Give 5 quick thrusts. Compressing the chest 1/3rd to 1/2 the depth of the chest Continue 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts until object is dislodged or child loses consciousness. Scroll down to see what to do for unconsciousness When object dislodges seek medical help to prevent complications that can arise from choking or from the first aid provided
Watch the Video
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