Guide to performing CPR on children who are chockingIt’s important to note that accidents are part of everyday life and they in some cases can’t be avoided. A small child for example can chock on something. Taking CPR classes can put you in a position to handle such a situation and with a lot of ease. It’s good to take classes for children who are one year and older even if you’ve already received training on infant CPR. This is because they are totally different strategies and procedure used. Some of the techniques you are going to study include Heimlich and the chest thrust.

According to studies, people gain confidence to handle real life emergencies the more they practice and partake in such sessions. You can visit the AHA (American Heart Association) website to locate a class near you offering CPR training. You can also log on to cpranytime.org to receive a home based CPR training course that comes with a mannequin and DVD.

Relieving a child over one year who’s chocking using CPR

This steps should be taken immediately you notice that you child has something stuck down their throat and has a hard time coughing or breathing.

  1. Deliver a series of 5 slaps in quick succession on the toddler’s back or shoulder blades utilizing your hand’s heel
  2. Do the Heimlich (abdominal thrusts) which is administered as follows
  • Wrap your arms around the toddler. You can do this while standing or kneeling. Make sure your arms are placed in front of their chest.
  • Form a small fist using one hand and put your thumb side on the fist which should be positioned below the breastbone and above the child’s belly button.
  • Hold your fist using your other hand and give quick upward and inward thrust until the object is forced out.
  1. Continue giving back slaps until the child can cough, talk and breathe
  2. You are required to administer CPR if you child stops breathing

 

Administering CPR for kids over one year

It’s imperative that you first of all check if you the child are responding. This can be done by tapping them or calling out their name. Don’t perform CPR of any kind if the child does respond. You can commence the procedure if there is no response by opening their mouth to check if something s stuck down their throat. Remove the object if possible and start CPR.

  1. It’s imperative that you have someone call the paramedics while you perform CPR on the child.
  2. The child should be put on a firm surface, no beds, and you should kneel or stand by their side preferably at their feet. Tilt the child’s neck backwards
  3. Put your ear to the child’s mouth to see if they are breathing or see if their chest is falling and rising
  4. Pinch the child’s nose and gently give them two breaths using your mouth
  5. You should then free them of any tight clothing and start compressing their chest. Repeat compression and breaths until the paramedics arrive or the child starts breathing