Choking - Chest thrusts

1. Chest thrusts may be given to an infant if the back blows have failed to dislodge the foreign body and the infant is still conscious. They may also be given to some children older than one, who are too small for abdominal thrusts.
2. Turn the infant from the position they were in for the back blows to a face up position. Support the back of their head with your hand and the back down your arm or across your laps.
3. Locate the landmark for chest thrusts. Locate the xiphoid process (the bottom tip of the breastbone) and compress a finger's depth above this point. Use your index and middle finger to perform the chest thrusts Just two fingers. No more.
4. Give up to five sharp thrust. The aim is to expel the foreign body with each thrust rather than give all five thrusts. Check to see if the object has been expelled and if not, intersperse the chest thrust with the back blows, as long as the child is conscious or until the object is expelled or help arrives. Do not leave the child alone.

Attribution: Avallain

See also:

• Signs of choking
• Coughing child
• Back blows
• Abdominal thrusts

Illustrations

• How to give chest thrusts to a choking infant

• SMS Info Service