Delivering back blows to a chocking infant
Support the infant in a head-downwards, prone position, to enable gravity to assist removal of a foreign body, a seated or kneeling first aider should be able to support the infant safely across their lap.
Support the infant’s head by placing the thumb of one hand at the angle of the lower jaw, and one or two fingers from the same hand at the same point on the other side of the jaw.
- Do not compress the soft tissues under the infant’s jaw, as this will exacerbate the airway obstruction.
- Deliver up to 5 sharp back blows with the heel of one hand in the middle of the back between the shoulder blades.
- The aim is to relieve the obstruction with each blow rather than to give all 5.