RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS
CHOKING INFANT UNDER ONE YEAR
CAUTION
i If at any stage the infant becomes unresponsive, open the airway and check breathing (pp.80-81). If the infant is not breathing, begin CPR (pp.82-83) to try to relieve the obstruction.
RECOGNITION
Mild obstruction:
■ Infant able to cough, but has difficulty crying or making any other noise
Severe obstruction:
■ Unable to make any noise or breathe, and eventually becomes unresponsive
To remove the obstruction
To arrange urgent removal to hospital if necessary
An infant is more likely to choke on food or small objects than an adult. The infant will rapidly become distressed, and you need to act quickly to clear any obstruction. If the infant becomes unresponsive, the throat muscles may relax and the airway may open enough to do rescue breathing. Be prepared to begin rescue breaths and chest compressions.
WHAT TO DO
. Iftheinfantisunabletocry,
cough or breathe, lay her facedown along your forearm and thigh and support her head. Give up to five back blows between the shoulder blades, with the heel of your hand.
g   If back blows fail to clear the obstruction, try chest thrusts. These are similar to chest compressions, but sharper in nature and delivered at a slower rate. Lay the infant face up on your leg, place two fingers on the lower part of the breastbone one finger's breadth below the nipple line and push downwards. Give up to five chest thrusts.
2   Turn the infant over so that she is face up along your other leg and check her mouth. Remove any obvious obstructions with your fingertips. Do not sweep the mouth with your finger as this may push the object further down the throat.
^   Check the mouth. If the obstruction still has not cleared, call 999/112 for emergency help; take the infant with you if necessary.
g   Repeat steps 1 to 3 -
rechecking the mouth after each step - until help arrives or the infant becomes unresponsive (see CAUTION, above left).
HANGING AND ST
If pressure is exerted on the outside of t squeezed and the flow of air to the lungs causes of such pressure are:
■ Hanging - suspension of the body by a the neck.
■ Strangulation - constriction or squeez or throat.
Sometimes, hanging or strangulation ma) for example, by ties or clothing becoming Hanging may cause a broken neck; for thi this situation must be handled extremely
WHAT TO DO
96     SEE ALSO Unresponsive infant pp.80-83
SEE ALSO S