First Aid To Do If Your Kid Is Choking

Kids choking is one of the scariest first aid dilemmas a parent can encounter. The best plan is to prepare ahead of time so you have the first aid skills to handle the situation should it arise. Taking an infant or kids CPR and first aid class is a really good thing to do when you're preggers. But make sure you take it again when your kid is older. Once mommy brain sets in, you may forget everything you learned when you had pregnancy brain.

Here's what to do if your baby or kid is choking (fyi, we hope you never have to use these first aid tips!): First, assess the situation. Figure out whether or not your kid can breathe. If he can cough, talk or cry, his airway isn't obstructed and his built-in gag reflex (you know, the one that helped him spit up his bottle in your lap) will work to dislodge the object. In this situation, the best thing to do is nothing. Let your kid work it out and cough or gag the object up. Next, call 911. If your kid's airway is obstructed, he'll be gasping for air, turning blue, panicking and may pass out. If this is what's happening, shout for help and call for someone to dial 911 immediately. If you are alone, start CPR for 1-2 minutes first before calling 911. If your kid's throat is closed due to something other than choking (like an allergic reaction) call 911 right away! Ditto if your kid has a heart condition. Next, try to dislodge the item! For babies under 12 months old follow these first aid steps:

• Lay your baby face-down along your forearm so that his head is lower than the rest of his body. Support his head by holding his jaw in your hand.
• Using the heel of your hand, give him 5 fast, vigorous blows between the shoulder blades.
• If the back blows don't work to get the item out and your kid still isn't breathing, flip him over keeping his head lower than his chest and give him 5 forceful chest thrusts to the breastbone (about 2 fingers' width below the level of the kid's nipples, in the middle of the chest). To do a chest thrust, push straight down on the kid's chest 1/2 inch to 1 inch and then let his chest to come back to its normal position.
• Repeat 5 times.
• Keep doing the 5 back blows followed by 5 chest thrusts until the object blocking his airway is forced out or first aid help arrives.
• If he starts to cough, let him cough and get the object out himself.

For kids older than 12 months, follow these first aid steps:

• Ask your verbal kid if he's choking. If he can talk or cough, he's not.
• If he is, stand behind him with your arms around his waist.
• Make a fist with one hand, putting the thumb side against your kid's stomach right above the belly button and below the rib cage.
• Grab your fist with your other hand and quickly thrust inward and upward.
• Then do back blows to try and dislodge the object.
• Go back and forth until the offending object comes flying out.
• If your kid becomes unconscious, perform CPR!

We have loads more child safety and kids first aid information! Check it out!