Choking Rescue Procedure (Heimlich Maneuver)

Baby (Younger Than 1 Year)

If a baby younger than 1 year is choking:

• Put the baby facedown on your forearm so the baby's head is lower than his or her chest.
• Support the baby's head in your palm, against your thigh. Don't cover the baby's mouth or twist his or her neck.
• Use the heel of one hand to give up to 5 back slaps between the baby's shoulder blades. See picture C.
• If the object does not pop out, support the baby's head and turn him or her faceup on your thigh. Keep the baby's head lower than his or her body.
• Place 2 or 3 fingers just below the nipple line on the baby's breastbone and give 5 quick chest thrusts (same position as chest compressions in CPR for a baby). See picture D.
• Look for an object in the baby's mouth. If you can see one, remove it. Then give 2 rescue breaths. To give rescue breaths:
  • Place one hand on the baby's forehead, and tilt the baby's chin up to keep the airway open.
  • Then place your mouth over the baby's mouth and nose and slowly blow air in until the baby's chest rises.
  • Between breaths, remove your mouth, take a breath, and watch for the baby's chest to fall.
• If the object does not come out with these steps, call 911 or other emergency services.
• Continue with back slaps, chest thrusts, looking for the object, and rescue breaths until the baby coughs up the object and starts breathing on his or her own, or until help arrives.

Picture C

Medical Illustration Copyright © 2002 Nucleus Medical Art, Inc. All rights reserved. www.nucleusinc.com

Picture D

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: May 1, 2008
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine
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