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Heimlich Maneuver in the Unconscious Child - Choking in the Unconscious Child

Treatment & Monitoring

What are the treatments for the injury?

First aid for an unconscious child who has choked includes:

checking for signs of circulation, such as normal breathing, coughing, or movement in response to stimulation

contacting the emergency medical system immediately

opening the child's mouth by grasping the tongue and lower jaw between your thumb and fingers and lifting. Only if you see the object should you gently sweep your index finger in a hooking motion deeply into the child's mouth to remove it.

starting cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, if the child has no signs of circulation. Use 5 chest compressions for every 1 mouth-to-mouth rescue breath.

placing the child in a side-lying position if he or she starts breathing and monitoring closely

staying with the child until medical help arrives

What are the side effects of the treatments?

The chest compressions of CPR can cause vomiting, injuries to internal organs, or broken ribs. Vomiting can be a problem if the vomit is caught in the airway and inhaled into the lungs. None of the procedures may work, and the child may still choke, remain unconscious, or possibly die.

What happens after treatment for the injury?

Anytime a child chokes, medical attention should be sought since the object may have been inhaled into the lung. This can cause wheezing, persistent cough, or pneumonia.

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