Choking Flashcards

An infant is choking and becomes unresponsive. What is your next step?

Answer: Begin CPR starting with chest compressions

When an infant becomes unresponsive due to choking, begin CPR starting with 30 chest compressions, looking for the object before giving breaths.

Which technique is NEVER appropriate for relieving choking in an infant?

Answer: Abdominal thrusts

Abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) should never be used on infants because it can damage their fragile abdominal organs.

A pregnant woman is choking and conscious. Where should you deliver thrusts?

Answer: Chest, at the center of the breastbone

For pregnant patients, chest thrusts are delivered at the center of the breastbone instead of abdominal thrusts to avoid harming the fetus.

When performing back blows on a choking infant, the infant should be held:

Answer: Face-down on your forearm with head lower than chest

The infant should be held face-down on your forearm with the head lower than the chest to use gravity to help dislodge the object.

A toddler is coughing forcefully after partially swallowing a grape. You should:

Answer: Encourage continued coughing and stay close

A forceful cough is the most effective way to clear a partial airway obstruction; do not interfere and monitor closely.

How many back blows should be delivered between sets of chest thrusts when treating a choking infant?

Answer: 5

The BLS protocol for infants calls for alternating 5 back blows with 5 chest thrusts until the object is expelled or the infant becomes unresponsive.

You are alone and choking. The most effective self-help technique is to:

Answer: Lean forward and cough as hard as possible, then thrust your upper abdomen against a hard edge

Forceful coughing combined with thrusting your abdomen against a chair back or countertop edge can mimic the Heimlich maneuver when alone.