Choking First Aid

Choking First Aid

15% - 35% of new eaters have a choking event. Toys and small items in the home can also be a choking risk. Doing a first aid course and learning how to recognise choking and do choking first aid is important for all parents. 

There are two types of choking:

Mild obstruction / choking with an effective cough 

  • Signs to look out for - child is coughing effectively and might be going red 
  • What to do - stay calm and encourage your child to cough 
  • If your childs cough starts becoming non-effective start choking first aid 
  • A child who is coughing effectively should not be given back blows or chest thrusts, this can make a choking event worse 

Complete obstruction / choking with a non-effective cough 

Sign to look out for: 

  • no effective coughing
  • effort to breathe or cough but there is no sound 
  • might start going blue 
  • what to do - START CHOKING FIRST AID 

Choking first aid - conscious child with a non-effective cough 

  1. call for an ambulance 
  2. give 5 back blows between their shoulder blades using the heel of your hand 
  3. give 5 chest thrusts in the middle of their chest 
  4. check to see if the item has come out with every back blow and chest thrust. The aim is to only do as many as you need. 
  5. CONTINUE UNTIL THE OBJECT COMES OUT, THE AMBULANCE PERSONNEL TAKES OVER 

If baby becomes unresponsive - start basic life support.

Choking first aid - conscious baby non-effective cough 

  1. CALL FOR HELP 
  2. 5 BACK BLOWS 
  3. 5 CHEST THRUSTS 

If baby becomes unresponsive - start basic life support 

Babies under 12 months - Things to remember 

  • always support babies head and neck 
  • place baby in a downwards position either over your lap on on your forearm 
  • never use a finger sweep for a baby 

A finger sweep is done in older children ONLY when you can easily remove an object you can see. To do a finger sweep place your pinky in the corner on of their mouth and sweep across to the other side. 

Choking first aid - conscious child non-effective cough 

  1. CALL FOR HELP 
  2. 5 BACK BLOWS 
  3. 5 CHEST THRUSTS 

If child becomes unresponsive - start basic life support 

Children over 12 months 

In New Zealand we always do chest thrusts and not abdominal thrusts.

Baby Choking First Aid - Under 12 months

Support baby’s head and neck with your hand and wrist. Lay them downwards against your forearm. If you need, rest your arm on your leg.

5 Back Blows

Use the heel of your hand between their shoulder blades. 

5 Chest Thrusts

Use two fingers to give short and sharp compressions. 

Child Choking First Aid - Over 12 months

5 Back Blows

Support your child’s torso on your forearm. Use the heel of your hand and between their shoulder blades. 

5 Chest Thrusts

Make a fist with one hand just below the nipple height with your other palm flat overtop. Use your own torso for support.