Treatment (Over 1’s)

Watch the video below showing the first aid treatment for a child choking;

Shout for help and encourage the child to cough. If the cough is effective do not take action yet. Keep encouraging them to cough and do not leave them. If the cough becomes ineffective (they become quieter or are really struggling to breathe) now it’s time to take action and ensure someone calls 999/112 for emergency help. 

If you’re alone and have your mobile phone handy, use the speaker function to do this while moving onto administering the treatment. 

Back blows; A small child may be placed across the rescuer’s lap as with an infant. If this is not possible, support the child by leaning them in a forward position so their head is lower than the chest and deliver the back blows from behind. Deliver up to 5 sharp back blows with the heel of one hand in the middle of the back between the shoulder blades. Check between each blow and stop if you clear the obstruction.

Abdominal Thrusts; If back blows do not relieve the airway obstruction, and the child is still conscious attempt abdominal thrusts. Stand or kneel behind the child. Place your arms around their waist. Make a fist with one hand and place it above the belly button and just below the ribs with your thumb inwards. Grasp this fist with the other hand on top and pull sharply inwards and upwards. Deliver up to 5 sharp abdominal thrusts checking between thrusts to see if you’ve cleared the obstruction.

 If the object has not been expelled and the casualty is still responsive, continue the sequence of back blows and abdominal thrusts.  

Call out, or send for help if it is still not available.