Children are always out and about exploring and therefore chances of an accident occurring can be quite high. Choking and gagging are some of the common mishaps that infants are prone to. It is important to understand that choking is different from gagging by a few parameters. During gagging, a baby’s airways are partially blocked, making it difficult to breathe or cough whereas choking occurs when the airways are fully blocked because of which a baby becomes unable to breathe at all. Under both these conditions, a baby will not be able to breathe, cry, speak or cough freely.
If a baby is coughing effectively when choking, it is best to let the coughing continue as it will help clear the airway. Knowing first aid and effective ways to quickly clear a blocked airway can save a baby’s life.
Infants and babies are sensitive and prone to incidents such as choking. This is why they need to be handled with care at all times. As a parent or guardian, there are certain questions to which you MUST know the answer to, like what to do if a baby chokes?
Food is a common choking hazard as children at this stage might not be able to chew their food well and therefore swallow it as a whole instead. It is important to understand the symptoms of choking so that the child can be given an immediate and effective first aid.
The following symptoms in a baby can be characteristics of choking:
Acting spontaneously is of utmost importance to prevent a choking baby from severe harm. Here are a few important steps to follow if a baby chokes.
If a baby is not able to breathe, cough or cry, it might be because something is blocking his airway. There are several symptoms which will help in identifying whether a baby is choking. A quick analysis of the situation will aid in saving the baby.
If the baby is showing symptoms of choking, use one finger to lift the chin and take a look into their mouth and nose to remove any visible blockage or obstruction. If a baby is coughing, allow him to cough until the obstruction comes out. Do not pat the back while a baby coughs as this will allow the obstruction to slip further inside.
If the obstruction does not come out and the child is not able to breathe, chest thrusts might help. Chest thrusts are given by placing two fingertips on the breastbone in the center of the chest and pushing inwards and upwards against the breastbone. Do not give all five thrusts immediately but try to dislodge the obstruction with each thrust. After each thrust, check the baby’s mouth and proceed for the next one if the obstruction is still not out.
CPR or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation is a life-saving procedure which is performed when a person’s heartbeat or breathing stops and they show no signs of life. CPR involves forceful rescue breathing that provides oxygen to the lungs. The procedure also involves chest compressions which help with the blood flow.
These procedures should continue until the child recovers or medical aid arrives, as lack of oxygen or stoppage of blood flow can result in permanent damage to the child. CPR for infants should ideally be done by someone who is trained with a CPR accredited course, but this can be done by parents too. Therefore it is imperative to know the techniques in order to stay fully equipped in case a situation demands this to be performed.
As discussed, CPR is performed when the body shows no sign of life, i.e., there is no breathing or the heart has stopped beating. CPR procedure should be performed when all other methods of reviving a child fail. A CPR is done to restore blood circulation and flow of oxygen in a child who has had cardiac arrest or suffers from choking, suffocation, shock, serious injury and other severe accidents.
A CPR procedure should be performed on a child if any of the following symptoms are noted:
In case of an emergency, it is appropriate to call the ambulance at the earliest. If you are alone with the baby with causality, then knowing how to give a baby CPR could prove to be the difference. Perform CPR for a minute and then call for the ambulance and repeat the procedure until an ambulance arrives. Following are the steps to be followed to give a baby CPR.
Identify the problem by noticing the symptoms mentioned above. If the baby is not conscious, try to get a response by gently tapping the sole of the foot and by calling out his name. If the baby is unconscious and has trouble breathing, then open the airway and check his pulse and give rescue breaths.
Look and listen for normal breathing by kneeling at a right angle to the baby’s chest. Push down the forehead and tilt the head back and lift the chin with one hand to look for and remove any obstruction in mouth and nose. Check for the pulse on the inside of the elbow by using your middle and index finger. If there is no pulse or the baby is not breathing then perform CPR and call for an ambulance.
Follow these steps to give rescue breaths to the baby:
There are precautions which you need to take while doing CPR:
Most accidents which require CPR are preventable if suitable preventive precautions are taken. The following tips can prevent some choking accidents among children:
These and many other precautions will help reduce the chances of a mishap with the kid which will require urgent medical attention.
In case of emergency, it is best to call for medical help without delay. If your child suffers from a fatal accident, call for medical help immediately and then continue giving the first aid while the team of professionals arrive.