Give first aid and give CPR when your baby is choking

Parents hope their children are not in any danger but sometimes there are unforeseen things. Children are often very inquisitive, want to try doing many things on their own and always face many dangerous situations such as choking on food, falling in a car or falling in dangerous places without an adult's supervision. At that time, if parents or people around know and follow the steps of first aid and CPR, it will contribute significantly in saving the child.

Give first aid to choking children from 1 to 12 years old

Step 1: Evaluate the situation quickly

If the baby suddenly is unable to cry, cough or even speak, the child's airway may be blocked and the first thing you need to do is help him take it out. The sign when a child chokes is that he or she may make strange noises or speak out loud, the skin becomes red or even bluish-purple.

If your child is coughing or vomiting, his airway is partially blocked. In this case, letting your child continue to cough is the most effective way to get rid of the blockage.

If your child is unable to cough up an object, ask someone else to call 115 or local emergency while you are back patting and stomach pressures.

Step 2: Try to get rid of the foreign body by back-patting and abdominal compression

The first is back pat. If the child is awake but unable to cough, speak or breathe, or the skin begins to turn pale, stand or kneel behind the child, support the child with one hand across the chest, and use the heel of the hand (upper wrist) to pat vigorously. into position between shoulder blades. Each back pat should be decisive and quick to clear the blockage. Do five back pats.

Next is abdominal squeezing. You stand or kneel behind the child and put your arms around the baby's waist. Then, use 1 or 2 fingers to locate your navel. Hold the fist like a fist, for example the right hand, place the fist above the navel and below the sternum, then the left hand grabs the fist and presses the abdomen upwards the abdominal wall, doing 5 reps. Each abdominal pressure should be strong and decisive to remove the obstruction. This is also known as the Heimlich maneuver.

Finally, repeat the back pat and abdominal press therapy. Continue to alternate five back pats and five abdominal presses until the object is expelled and the baby begins to cough vigorously. If your child is able to cough, encourage him or her to continue coughing up foreign bodies.

When to give CPR for a choking child and how to do it?

If the child is choking and unconscious, CPR will be needed. Here are instructions for how to give CPR in children:

Lay your baby on his or her back on a hard, flat surface. You kneel beside the child's chest, place the heel of your hand on the breastbone, between the chest area. Place your other hand directly on top of the other. Try to keep your hands off your chest by interlacing your fingers or using your upper hand to keep them.

Carry out 30 compressions by pressing the sternum about 4-5cm, releasing your hand so that your chest is back to normal before starting a new one.

Pry the child's mouth and look for the object. If you see them, remove them with your finger.

Then proceed with two breaths. If air is inaccessible (ie you can't see the chest rise) repeat the cycle of 30 presses, examine the foreign body, and try 2 breaths until the object is removed, the baby begins breathing or help arrives.

With the above information, aFamilyToday Health hopes to help parents to have more knowledge about first aid to be able to help their children or other children in emergency situations.