If back blows do not remove an object from a choking infant, what should be done next?

If back blows do not remove an object from a choking infant, what should be done next?

• A. Perform abdominal thrusts
• B. Administer rescue breaths
• C. Call for emergency assistance
• D. Continue with back blows

Answer: (A)

When dealing with a choking infant, if back blows fail to dislodge the object, the appropriate next step is to perform abdominal thrusts. In infants, however, this is done using a modified approach often referred to as "chest thrusts" rather than traditional abdominal thrusts used for older children and adults. The reasoning behind this approach is that abdominal thrusts can be dangerous for young infants due to their anatomical features, and chest thrusts provide a safer and more effective way to create the pressure necessary to expel the object causing the obstruction. Continuing with back blows alone would not be effective if they have already proven unsuccessful, and administering rescue breaths prematurely might not address the immediate problem of the airway obstruction. Calling for emergency assistance may be necessary if the situation does not resolve quickly, but the priority in this moment is to effectively attempt to clear the airway obstruction with the appropriate technique for the infant's age.

When dealing with a choking infant, if back blows fail to dislodge the object, the appropriate next step is to perform abdominal thrusts. In infants, however, this is done using a modified approach often referred to as "chest thrusts" rather than traditional abdominal thrusts used for older children and adults.

The reasoning behind this approach is that abdominal thrusts can be dangerous for young infants due to their anatomical features, and chest thrusts provide a safer and more effective way to create the pressure necessary to expel the object causing the obstruction. Continuing with back blows alone would not be effective if they have already proven unsuccessful, and administering rescue breaths prematurely might not address the immediate problem of the airway obstruction. Calling for emergency assistance may be necessary if the situation does not resolve quickly, but the priority in this moment is to effectively attempt to clear the airway obstruction with the appropriate technique for the infant's age.