Class 4 - Infant CPR & Choking

Quick Note on Childproofing

Childproofing Your Home

Your baby's gross motor development will flourish between 6 and 9 months, going from sitting with support to crawling, pulling up to stand, or even cruising around the room holding on to the furniture. These gains plus a developing pincer grasp equals danger. For this reason, we discuss childproofing the home at the 6 month visit.

IF ALONE WITH A CHILD WHO IS CHOKING OR NEEDS CPR...

  1. Shout for help
  2. Start rescue effort
  3. Call 911

Note: The techniques below are for infants younger than 1 year

Difference Between an Infant Who is Choking and an Infant Who Needs CPR

  • An infant who is choking is SILENT (unable to breathe, cough, cry, or speak) but is AWAKE 
  • An infant who needs CPR is unconscious or unresponsive for any reason

Techniques for Infant Choking (5:5)

  1. 5 back blows (slaps)
    1. With infant laying face down on left forearm, administer hard blows to back between shoulder blades with your wrist
    2. Ensure infant's legs are straddling your arm, infant's jawline is supported by your hands, and you are on your knees holding the infant at a 45 degree angle
  2. 5 chest compressions 
    1. Swap baby to right side
    2. Find the breastbone just below the nipple or armpit line
    3. Press hard (1/3rd the depth of the chest) and quickly with 2 fingers, allowing the chest to rise between compressions
  3. Check the mouth between each set of back slaps/chest compressions to remove foreign body IF VISIBLE
    1. Use your pinky to sweep object out 

Alternate back blows (slaps) and chest compressions until 1) the object is dislodged or 2) the infant becomes unconscious/unresponsive. If the infant becomes unconscious/unresponsive, begin CPR.

Techniques for Infant CPR (30:2)

To be used when the infant is unconscious/unresponsive. It's of utmost importance to place the infant on a flat, hard surface.

  1. Start chest compressions
    1. Place 2 fingers on the breastbone just below the nipple line
    2. Compress chest at least 1/3 the depth of the chest, or about 1.5 inches
    3. After each compression, allow chest to return to normal position. Compress chest at rate of at least 100 times per minute
    4. Do 30 compressions
  2. Open airway
    1. Open airway (head tilt-chin lift)
    2. If you see a foreign body, take it out. Do NOT do blind finger sweeps
  3. Start rescue breathing
    1. Take a normal breath
    2. Cover infant’s mouth and nose with your mouth
    3. Give 2 breaths, each for 1 second. Each breath should make the chest rise
    4. Give another breath if chest does not rise, but do not interrupt compressions for longer than 10 seconds
  4. Resume chest compressions
    1. Continue with cycles of 30 compressions to 2 breaths
    2. After 5 cycles of compressions and breaths, if no one has called 911, leave or take infant with you if the infant is not injured and call 911. Then return and continue chest compressions/breaths.

Handout to print and put on the fridge or bulletin board

Download the PDF here