What to do if Baby Chokes: A Brief Guide to the Heimlich for Babies
We wanted to post about this very important matter: choking.
We were shocked to find out that every 1 in 5 days a child dies of choking (source).
So please be vigilant watch scan babies surrounding and play area make sure there’s nothing they can choke on.
If anything please watch the video above so you know what to do and be prepared.
More choking info bellow
Do you know what to do if your baby is choking?
Do you know what signs to look for that your baby is choking?
What are the most common causes of choking?
What to look for if your baby is choking
Here are signs that your baby is choking:
Bluish skin color (look at the lips)
Difficulty breathing -- ribs and chest pull inward
Loss of consciousness (unresponsiveness) if blockage is not cleared
Inability to cry or make much sound
Weak, ineffective coughing
Soft or high-pitched sounds while inhaling
The most common cause of choking: food
“Food is the most common cause of infant choking. However, small objects, parts from toys and certain types of behavior during eating — such as eating while distracted — also can cause infant choking.” (source)
Be careful of high risk foods. Don't give babies hot dogs, chunks of meat or cheese, grapes, raw vegetables, or fruit chunks, unless they're cut up into small pieces.
Also, everyday household might seem harmless but can be a huge danger. It’s important that small objects are never around such as coins, buttons, batteries, dice and pen caps.
Also, make sure their toys are age appropriate. We used to think that the age guidelines were just for if baby will understand the toy or game. But it’s actually for safety too.
What to do if baby chokes
How to do it for infants under 1:
Place her facedown on your forearm, supporting her neck and chin with your fingers. Tilt your hand so her head is lower than her chest.
Give five quick blows to her back between her shoulder blades, using the heel of your free hand.
If no object pops out, turn your baby over and place her faceup on a table or the floor.
Place two fingers in the middle of her breastbone just below nipple level and give five quick thrusts.
Repeat the cycle of five back blows and five chest thrusts until the object is dislodged or she begins breathing.
If your baby becomes unconscious, begin CPR immediately. Each time you go to deliver rescue breaths, look for an object in her mouth. If you see something, take it out. But never put your fingers into her throat to feel for an object; you could lodge it more firmly.
How to do it for kids older than 1:
Stand or kneel behind your kid, wrapping your arms around him.
Make a fist and place it just above his belly button.
Grasp your fist with your other hand and give quick upward thrusts.
Deliver thrusts until the object is dislodged or he begins breathing.
If your child passes out, begin CPR immediately. Each time you go to deliver rescue breaths, look for an object in his mouth. If you see something, take it out. But never attempt to put your fingers into your child's throat to feel for the object; doing so could lodge the item more firmly in his airway.
What to Remember:
Even if you successfully perform the Heimlich, you still need to call 911, says Nicholas Tsarouhas, M.D., associate medical director of the emergency department at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "Always have your child evaluated after any near-choking incident."