Choking in an infant younger than 1 year is best treated with which approach?

• A. Abdominal Thrusts
• B. Chest Compressions
• C. Heimlich Maneuver
• D. Back Blows & Chest Thrusts

Answer: (D)

For an infant younger than 1 year who is choking, the best initial treatment is back blows followed by chest thrusts. This approach uses gentle, targeted forces to dislodge the object while protecting the infant’s soft body. Start with the infant facing down along your forearm, head supported and lower than the chest, and deliver up to five back blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. If the airway is still obstructed, flip the infant over and give up to five chest thrusts with two or three fingers on the center of the chest just below the nipple line. Alternate back blows and chest thrusts until the object is expelled or the infant becomes unresponsive. Abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich maneuver) are not used for infants because applying pressure to the abdomen can cause injury and is not appropriate for this age. If the infant becomes unresponsive, begin CPR with chest compressions and rescue breaths, and look for and remove the object before delivering breaths.