Dynamo Training Solutions Simple Guide to: First aid for choking child

Dynamo Training Solutions Simple Guide to: First aid for choking child

What to do if a child is choking?

Choking is when a child's airway may be partly or completely blocked. This means that the child may be unable to breathe properly. The child may be able to clear the blockage by coughing, but if they cannot, you will need to help them immediately.

Recognition of a MILD choke

· Difficulty in breathing

· Difficulty in speaking or coughing.

· Grasping of the throat area

· Redness of the face and the face becoming puffy.

Recognition of a SEVERE choke

· Difficulty in breathing

· Inability to speak.

· Grasping of the throat area

· Flaring of the nostril

· Blue or greyness around the face

· The child gets weaker, eventually becoming unresponsive.

What first aid action should be taken for a choking casualty?

The treatment for both a mild and severe choking child is the same.

1. Ask the child ‘Are you choking?’

2. Ask the casualty to cough it out. Encourage the child to cough and remove any obvious obstruction from their mouth- NEVER blind finger sweep.

3. Give up to 5 back slaps. Lean the causality forward and support their upper body with one hand. With the heel of your other hand give the child up to 5 sharp back slaps between the shoulder blades. After each back slap check the mouth and pick out any obvious obstruction

4. If the back slaps give up to 5 abdominal thrusts. To do this stand behind and put your arms around the child’s waist. Place one hand in a clenched fist between their belly button and the bottom of their chest. With the other hand, grasp your fist and pull sharply inwards and upwards up to 5 times. Check the mouth again after each abdominal thrust.

5. If the obstruction has not cleared call 999 or 112 for emergency assistance and continue the process of five back slaps and five abdominal thrusts until help arrives and takes over, OR the object comes out, OR they become unresponsive. If they become unresponsive you should start CPR immediately.

Important note

Even if you give a child one back slap, they should be medically checked out to ensure that no physical damage has occurred.

Simple guide to a choking child

Dynamo Training Solutions provide comprehensive training on all first aid-related topics. We deliver first-aid training courses throughout London, Kent, and the Southeast. Dynamo Training Solutions Simple Guide to: First Aid for a choking child is one of a series of Dynamo Training Solutions Simple Guide to first aid series.