Question

What do you do when someone is choking? How do you give CPR to younger children? How about adults?

Answer 1

Choking happens when an object lodges in the throat or windpipe blocking the flow of air. In adults, a piece of food is usually to blame. Young children often choke on small objects. Choking is life-threatening. It cuts off oxygen to the brain. Give first aid as quickly as possible if you or someone else is choking.

Step 1: Check for responsiveness.

Gently tap the infant’s foot or shoulder and yell. If the baby is unresponsive, move on to the next step and call 911 immediately.

Step 2: Give 30 chest compressions.

Put the baby on a hard, flat surface. Take 2 fingers and find the center of the chest just below the imaginary line between the nipples. Push down 1/3 the thickness of the chest at a rate of 100/minute. The AHA recommends pushing to the beat of “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees.

Step 3: Open the airway.

Gently tilt the head back, being careful to not tilt it too far.

Step 4: Give 2 breaths.

Cover the mouth and the nose with your mouth, creating a seal, and give 2 gentle breaths, watching to see the chest rise and then release.

Step 5: Continue giving infant CPR until help arrives.

CPR keeps blood flowing to the brain and other vital organs until advanced medical help can take over.

For more comprehensive training for performing CPR on an infant, register for Infant CPR’s online infant CPR class.

How to perform CPR on a child (ages 1-8)

Here are the basic steps for quick reference if you find yourself in an emergency situation requiring you to perform CPR on a child (between 1-8 years of age). These guidelines are based on information provided by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Step 1: Check for responsiveness.

Shake or tap the child gently. Shout the child’s name or “Are you okay?” If the child is unresponsive and you are alone, move on to the next step. If there is another person with you, tell them to call 911.

Step 2: Give 30 chest compressions.

Place the child on his or her back. (Note: if a spinal injury is possible, two people should move the child, preventing the head and neck from twisting.) Place the heel of the hand on the breastbone, just below the nipples. Keep the child’s head tilted back. Push down 1/3 the thickness of the chest 30 times. The compressions should be fast and hard, without pauses.

Step 3: Open the airway.

Lift the chin and tilt the head back by pressing down on the forehead.

Step 4: Look, listen, and feel for breathing.

Put your ear close to the child’s mouth and nose, with your face pointed toward their chest. This will allow you to hear breath, feel breath on your cheek, or see the chest rise and fall. If the child is not breathing, continue to step 5.

Step 5: Give 2 rescue breaths.

Cover the child’s mouth with your mouth (tightly, creating a seal), and pinch the nose closed. Keeping the chin lifted, give 2 breaths, watching to see the chest rise and then release. Each breath should take about a second.

Step 6: Continue giving CPR (30 chest compressions, 2 breaths, repeat) until help arrives.

If you are alone, give CPR for at least two minutes before stopping to call 911. Once you’ve called 911, continue giving CPR until help arrives.

Start compressions:

Kneel beside the person's chest.

Put one of your hands on top of the other.

Put the heel of your bottom hand where the person's ribs meet in the middle of his or her chest, between the nipples.

Press straight down on the sternum (breastbone) at least 2 inches (5 centimeters).

Do 30 chest compressions at a rate of at least 100 to 120 every minute (2 per second).

Count the compressions out loud to help you do them at a steady, even speed.

Give 2 rescue breaths:

Place one hand on the person's forehead and 2 fingers under the chin.

Tilt the head back and open the mouth.

Gently pinch the person's nose closed.

Take a deep breath and put your lips around the person's mouth, making an airtight seal.

Blow into the person's mouth. His or her chest will rise with each breath if air is going into the lungs.

Let the persons's chest fall before giving another breath.

Repeat the cycle of 30 compressions and 2 breaths for 5 cycles .

CALL:

Your local emergency number (911 in the US)

Continue CPR until help arrives or the person begins to respond.

Care Agreement

Answer 2

If someone is choking, here are the steps you can take to help:

Encourage the person to cough: If the person is coughing, it's a good sign that air is still flowing. Encourage them to continue coughing to try and dislodge the object.

Perform abdominal thrusts: If the person can't cough, stand behind them and wrap your arms around their waist. Make a fist with one hand and place it above their navel, then grasp the fist with your other hand and press hard into the abdomen with a quick upward thrust. Repeat until the object is dislodged or the person becomes unconscious.

For CPR on younger children:

Call for help: If you notice that a child is unresponsive, call for emergency medical services (EMS) immediately.

Check for breathing and pulse: Check if the child is breathing and if they have a pulse. If they are not breathing and do not have a pulse, begin CPR.

Perform chest compressions: For children, place the heel of one hand on the breastbone and the other hand on top, then push down on the chest about 2 inches. Do this at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute.

Give rescue breaths: Tilt the child's head back slightly, lift the chin, and give two breaths into the mouth. Watch for the chest to rise with each breath.

For CPR on adults:

Call for help: If you notice that an adult is unresponsive, call for emergency medical services (EMS) immediately.

Check for breathing and pulse: Check if the adult is breathing and if they have a pulse. If they are not breathing and do not have a pulse, begin CPR.

Perform chest compressions: For adults, place the heel of one hand on the breastbone and the other hand on top, then push down on the chest about 2 inches. Do this at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute.

Give rescue breaths: Tilt the adult's head back slightly, lift the chin, and give two breaths into the mouth. Watch for the chest to rise with each breath.

Remember to continue performing CPR until EMS arrives or until the person starts breathing on their own.

Step-by-step explanation: