7-3.
REMOVE UPPER AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION IN A CONSCIOUS INFANT
If a head or spinal injury is suspected, place the infant on a firm surface and
administer chest thrusts and finger sweeps (no backblows) as needed. If a head or
spinal injury is not suspected (for example, the infant is choking on something he just
swallowed), use the procedures given below to remove the obstruction. The rescuer
should be in a kneeling or sitting position. (Note that backblows are administered to
infants, but not to children or adults.)
a. Call for Help. Call for help, but do not leave the casualty or delay
administering chest thrusts in order to seek help. You may need someone to take you
and the infant to a medical facility while you continue to perform lifesaving measures.
b. Position Infant for Backblows.
(1) Small infant. Roll the infant's body lengthwise over your arm so the
infant is straddling your forearm with his rear toward you and his back up as shown in
figure 7-1. Support the infant's head with the thumb and fingers of your hand. Rest
your forearm on your thigh to provide support. Be sure the infant's head is lower than
the trunk of his body.
Figure 7-1. Administering backblows to a small infant.
(2) Large infant. If the infant is too large to straddle your arm, lay the
casualty's body across your thighs with his head lower than the trunk of his body.
Position the arm that will not be used to administer backblows under the infant's body so
that the hand supports the infant's head and neck. The forearm under the infant's chest
will provide a firm surface for the backblows.
c. Administer Backblows. Administer five glancing backblows (figure 7-1). A
backblow is administered by striking the infant on the spine between his shoulder blades
with the heel of your free hand. The five blows should be delivered within 5 seconds.
MD0532
7-4