Choking Rescue Procedure (Heimlich Manoeuvre)
Baby (Younger Than 1 Year)
If a baby younger than 1 year is choking:
- Put the baby face-down on your forearm so the baby's head is lower than his or her chest.
- Support the baby's head in your palm, against your thigh. Don't cover the baby's mouth or twist his or her neck.
- Use the heel of one hand to give up to 5 back slaps between the baby's shoulder blades. See Illustration C.
- If the object does not pop out, support the baby's head and turn him or her face up on your thigh. Keep the baby's head lower than his or her body.
- Place 2 or 3 fingers just below the nipple line on the baby's breastbone and give 5 quick chest thrusts (same position as chest compressions in CPR for a baby). See Illustration D.
- Look for an object in the baby's mouth. If you can see one, remove it. Then give 2 rescue breaths. To give rescue breaths:
- Place one hand on the baby's forehead, and tilt the baby's chin up to keep the airway open.
- Then place your mouth over the baby's mouth and nose and slowly blow air in until the baby's chest rises.
- Between breaths, remove your mouth, take a breath, and watch for the baby's chest to fall.
- If the object does not come out with these steps, call911or other emergency services.
- Continue with back slaps, chest thrusts, looking for the object, and rescue breaths until the baby coughs up the object and starts breathing on his or her own, or until help arrives.
Illustration C
Illustration D
 Go to previous section |  Go to top of page |  Go to next section |
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: April 24, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine | |
 | ||
| |
| Topic Contents | |
| Overview | |
| Adults or Children | |
| Person Loses Consciousness | |
| Choking While Alone | |
 | Infants |
| Related Information | |
| Credits | |