Final answer:
Yes, for infants experiencing a foreign body airway obstruction, a combination of back blows and chest thrusts is used after the incident is witnessed. Chest thrusts follow if back blows fail for infants, while the Heimlich maneuver is for older children and adults.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, a combination of back blows and chest thrusts is indeed used for infants with a foreign body airway obstruction that has been witnessed. For infants under one year old, the recommended procedure is to first deliver up to five back blows by holding the infant face-down on your forearm with their head lower than their body. If this does not dislodge the object, you then perform up to five chest thrusts. This means turning the infant on their back and applying pressure with two fingers in the center of the chest. If the obstruction does not clear after repeating these steps, it is critical to call for emergency medical care immediately. The Heimlich maneuver is generally reserved for older children and adults; for them, if back blows do not work, you would stand behind the person and apply the Heimlich maneuver, also known as abdominal thrusts. However, it's important to seek proper training on these life-saving procedures and always act according to the updated guidelines from recognized health organizations.
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