Medical Encyclopedia
Choking first aid - adult or child over 1 year - series: Part 4
Performing first aid for a choking child is very similar to an adult. If the child does not clearly grab their throat other danger signs for a child and an adult include:
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Inability to speak
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Weak, ineffective coughing
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Noisy breathing or high-pitched sounds while inhaling
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Difficulty breathing
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Bluish skin color
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Loss of consciousness if blockage is not cleared
1. Stand behind the child and wrap your arms around the child’s waist.
2. Make a fist with one hand. Place the thumb side of your fist just above the child’s navel, well below the breastbone.
Update Date: 1/16/2007
Updated by: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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