Final Answer:
For a responsive infant experiencing foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO), the following interventions should be employed:
1. **Back Blows:**
- *Positioning:* Place the infant face down on your forearm, supporting the head and jaw with your hand.
- *Deliver Blows:* Administer up to five back blows between the infant's shoulder blades using the heel of your hand.
2. **Chest Thrusts:**
- *Repositioning:* Turn the infant over on your opposite forearm with the head lower than the chest.
- *Perform Chest Thrusts:* Use two or three fingers to deliver quick, upward thrusts to the center of the infant's chest, just below the nipple line.
3. **Check for Dislodged Object:**
- *Visual Inspection:* After each back blow and chest thrust, check the infant's mouth for any dislodged object. If you see the object, remove it with your fingers.
4. **Activate Emergency Medical Services (EMS):**
- *Timely Assistance:* If the obstruction persists, activate EMS immediately for professional intervention.
5. **Repeat Cycles:**
- *Continue Back Blows and Chest Thrusts:* Repeat the cycles of back blows and chest thrusts until the object is expelled, or the infant loses consciousness.
6. **CPR (if necessary):**
- *Initiate CPR:* If the infant becomes unresponsive, start CPR. Begin with chest compressions, followed by rescue breaths. Continue until professional help arrives.
Step-by-step explanation:
1. **Back Blows and Chest Thrusts:**
- *Technique:* Back blows and chest thrusts are effective techniques for dislodging a foreign object from an infant's airway.
2. **Check for Dislodged Object:**
- *Visual Inspection:* Checking for a dislodged object helps ensure the effectiveness of the interventions.
3. **Activate EMS:**
- *Professional Assistance:* In case the obstruction persists, timely activation of EMS ensures that professional medical help is on the way.
4. **Repeat Cycles:**
- *Persistence:* Repeating the cycles of back blows and chest thrusts is essential until the object is removed or professional help arrives.
5. **CPR (if necessary):**
- *Life Support:* CPR is initiated if the infant becomes unresponsive, providing essential life support until professional assistance is available.