home web tutorials visitor content extra contact

Infant Obstructed Airway (conscious to unconscious)

I learnt this on August 21 2006. I hope it will help you- I wrote it myself. Remember, a baby is very delicate.

So first, check for dangers. You do this every time you do a rescue or anything. I know it might be stupid, but there might be needles or something.
Then, if there is a mother or someone taking care of the baby, introduce yourself and tell them you can help the baby.
The baby should be making sounds. If they are, just wait. If they aren't, scoop them up gently in your forearm (make sure you're on your knees) and with one of your handss, take three fingers(ring finger should be at the nipple), go across the nipple line(stop at middle of chest), and take your ring finger up. Use your other two fingers to press down 5 times. With the arm that is holding Baby, pass it onto the other arm (usually is right). The other arm should now be holding onto Baby's cheekbones, leaning down. Your arm and Baby should be rested on one of your legs. With your free hand, go between Baby's shoulder blades, and whack five times, pushing up. Repeat it until the baby stops moving.
So lay Baby down on the ground, and tell someone to call the ambulance. You tell them:
-you want the ambulance
-there is an unconscious baby
-the place
-phone number
-be the last to hang up
-report back to you
-do you understand?
The whole thing should sound like this: Hey can you go call 911, there is an unconscious infant here at Killarney Pool(*give address*) 555-5555. Be the last to hang up and report back to me. Do you understand?
If they nod 'yes', then you go on. If they go 'no', then you either repeat it, or find someone else. When the person nods yes, that person has become your bystander. The mother cannot be your bystander because she is not able to do anything much(worriedness), and much likely will not be willing to leave her baby.
This is the obstructed airway procedure. You look in the mouth to see if there is anything. If there is, scoop it out and go on to the ABC steps. If there isn't, give one puff.(DO NOT give 'breaths'. Babies cannot have too much oxygen.)It doesn't go in(you know it goes in when the chest rises), readjust the head, give another puff(Doesn't go in). Go across the nipple line, and press down five times. Repeat these steps until the thing pops out, or breaths start going in.
These are the ABC steps. A stands for Airway, B stands for Breathing, C stands for Circulation.
Obviously, first, we do A. The airway means you tilt the head back. Try tilting your own head back. Is it easier to breathe, and harder to swallow? A baby is very delicate. Unlike on an adult/child, you only tilt a little bit. The hand closest to the forehead is the hand that goes on the forehead. Once you put your hand there, it never leaves.
B is breathing, which means you check Babys breathing. You put your cheek close to Babys mouth and nose, and you look at the stomach/chest. If it is rising and sinking, Baby is breathing. If it is not, Baby isn't breathing. Give one puff, and if it doesn't go in, readjust. Give another puff. If it doesn't go in, do the obstructed airway procedures. If it goes in, we go on.
C is Circulation, which physically means pulse. You lift arm closest to you, put two/three fingers on Babys arm (from armpit, go up a little bit, there should be a pulse. If you do the pulse on the neck or wrist, chances are you're gonna break something.) If you feel a pulse, we move on. If you don't, do CPR.
So now Baby is breathing, has a pulse, what next? You ask bystander to get a blanket, and do Secondary Assesment.
This is the Canadian Obstructed Airway(infant) procedure for August 2006, and is due to change in September 2006. Be aware.