Choking inchildren or infants is a constant fear for parents. In their panic, very few really know what to do and let their emotions overwhelm them. Numerous testimonies attest to the need to know what to do and to be trained inchoking.
Choking occurs when a foreign body passes through the airway (trachea or larynx) rather than the digestive tract (oesophagus).
Partial smothering / total smothering
Let's remember the difference between the two types ofchoking in babies andchildren.
- Partial choking
This is a partial obstruction of the airway, which means that the infant orchild can make sounds, can cough, but above allcan breathe. Air will continue to pass. Choking occurs when a foreign body passes through the airway (trachea or larynx) rather than the digestive tract (oesophagus).
- Total suffocation
Airwayobstruction is total. It is also called acute airway obstruction. In this case, there is no sound, noise or cough. There is no breathing. The baby orchild 's mouth may be open, their hands may be at their throat and their face may turn blue from lack of oxygen.
Which gestures for which choking in children or infants?
For partial suffocation of thechild or infant
Put the child in a position in which he or she feels comfortable, usually sitting. Then encourage them to cough to helpexpel the foreign body. Above all, monitor, talk to and reassure the child. Once the foreign body has been expelled, call 15 for medical advice and follow the advice of the emergency services.
For total airway sealing
In infants
Grab him and sit at the end of the chair. Straddle your baby on your forearm with a thumb and finger on either side of his or her mouth to keep it open. Then rest your forearm on your thigh. The baby 's head should be lower than his buttocks. Then, with the heel of your open hand, give the baby five large pats on the back, located between the shoulder blades.
At this point, if you see a sign of breathing, take the foreign body out of your baby 's mouth and put him in the resting position.
If not, hold the bottom of his head, his neck and your forearm along his back. Turn him/her over and give five chest compressions with your fingertips placed at the bottom of the sternum over the last few ribs. Repeat this manoeuvre until the airway is clear.
If you are successful, put the child to rest and call 15, following their instructions.
If you are unsuccessful, place your baby on a high table with a hard surface. Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Before doing this, call for help or ask a witness to do so. Put the infant on his or her bare chest and hold the head with the palm of your hand. With the pads of two fingers on the bottom of the sternum and at the junction of the last ribs, give 30 chest compressions 4cm deep and vertical. Remember that the compression time is equal to the release time and that during the chest compressions your fingers do not leave the child's chest.
After this manoeuvre, check if the foreign body has appeared in your baby's mouth.
