Obstructed Airway Rescues for Conscious Infants

Included in the standard first aid course curriculum is training to rescue a infant with a obstructed airway. Participants will learn to clear an airway obstruction and restore normal breathing in a conscious infant patient. Participants will have to include skills and knowledge learned in previous sections such as scene assessment, obtaining consent and adapting to a dynamic scenario. This page is dedicated to the key aspects to successfully completing the rescue component of a conscious infant with a obstructed airway. This is a brief overview of the key components, if you want to learn to recognize and treat choking infants take a standard first aid course. The material posted on this page is for information purposes only.

To successfully complete the course candidates must:

  • Assess the scene for any hazards.
  • Recognize the level of obstruction.
  • Identify him or herself to the parents or caregivers and obtain consent.

For a mild obstruction rescuers should:

  • Encourage the patient to keep coughing.
  • Reassure the patient.

For a severe obstruction rescuers should:

Carefully landmark either on the infants back or chest. Rescuer will alternate between 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts until the airway is clear or the level of consciousness changes.

If the rescuer is successful in removing the obstruction he or she should direct the patient and caregiver to seek medical attention immediately.

For a unresponsive patient:

  • Rescuer should appropriately and effectively activate emergency medical services and locate a AED.
  • Rescuer should perform 30 chest compressions followed by checking the mouth and attempting to ventilate. If ventilation’s are unsuccessful rescuer should continue with chest compressions, checking the mouth and attempted ventilation’s until the airway is clear.
  • If the object can be seen when the rescuer is checking the mouth the rescuer should attempt to remove the obstruction.

To successfully complete a standard first aid course candidates must complete the steps posted above. The criteria posted above is the bare minimum requirements to pass this component of standard first aid.  Strong hands-on practice and training is necessary to complete the course. Register today to be prepared for any choking emergency.