How to save your child from choking

Last year, 15,000 under 5 year olds were admitted to hospital because of choking. If your child was to choke on food or a small object, would you know what to do?
These are potentially life-saving techniques that every mum should know. Learn how to save your baby from choking if they accidentally swallow a small object or don't chew their food properly in this video from The British Red Cross, then print out the following steps.

How to tell if your child is choking:

If your child is choking they might go quiet because they can't breathe,
or they might cough violently.

What to do if your child is choking:

If they can't get rid of the object by coughing, or cannot breath, cough, speak or cry - act quickly with these 3 easy steps:

For babies under 12 months:

1. Lie the baby face down over your forearm or lap, with their head low and supported.
2. Give up to 5 back blows between their shoulder blades, with the heel of your hand. Check their mouth quickly after each one and remove any obvious obstructions.
3. If they are still choking, turn the baby onto their back. With 2 fingertips, give up to 5 chest thrusts, pushing inwards and upwards in the middle of their chest. Check their mouth after each one.
   

If this doesn't work, do up to 3 more rounds of back blows and chest thrusts.

Call 999 for an ambulance after 3 rounds and carry on doing back blows and chest thrusts until the ambulance arrives.

For children over 1-year-old:

1. Lean the child forward.
2. Give up to 5 back blows between their shoulder blades, with the
   heel of your hand. Check their mouth quickly after each one and remove
   any obvious obstructions.
3. If they are still choking, stand behind them and place your fist between the belly button and bottom of the breast bone and cup your fist with your other hand. Give up to 5 abdominal thrusts, pulling inwards and upwards. This is known as the Heimlich manoeuvre. Check their mouth after each one.
   

If this doesn't work, do up to 3 more rounds of back blows and abdominal thrusts.

Call 999 for an ambulance after 3 rounds and carry on doing back blows and abdominal thrusts until the ambulance arrives.

Always seek medical advice after your baby or child has received chest thrusts or abodminal thrusts.

Where to next?

- Basic first aid

 

- Child safety at home

- Buying a safety gate