[Skip to Content]
Wirral University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Wirral University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Choking infant

If at any stage the infant becomes unconscious, open the airway, check breathing and, if necessary, begin rescue breaths. If you cannot achieve effective breaths, you must immediately begin giving chest compressions to try to relieve the obstruction quickly:

  • Give up to five back slaps.
  • Check the mouth and remove any obvious obstruction.

If the obstruction is still present:

  • Give up to five chest thrusts.
  • Check the mouth; remove any obvious obstruction.

If the obstruction does not clear after three cycles of back-slaps and chest thrusts dial 999 and request an ambulance, then continue until help arrives.