North Carolina EMT State Practice Exam

For an infant experiencing conscious choking, what is the recommended method to relieve the blockage?

1. 5 chest thrusts followed by 5 back blows

2. 5 back blows followed by 5 chest thrusts

3. Abdominal thrusts

4. Manual removal of the obstruction

The correct answer is: 5 back blows followed by 5 chest thrusts

In cases of conscious choking in infants, the recommended procedure is to administer a combination of back blows and chest thrusts to effectively relieve the blockage. The initial five back blows are performed by positioning the infant face down on the rescuer's forearm, with the head lower than the body, allowing gravity to assist in dislodging the obstruction. This method helps deliver a sharp blow to the back, aiming for the area between the shoulder blades. After the back blows, five chest thrusts are performed while the infant is held in a supine position, using two or three fingers placed on the center of the chest just below the nipples. This technique creates a small volume of air pressure within the chest that can help expel the object causing the choking. This combination—back blows followed by chest thrusts—is effective as it utilizes both types of pressure to increase the likelihood of dislodging any obstructive material from the airway. Using abdominal thrusts is not recommended for infants as it can potentially cause harm due to their smaller size and developmental differences. Manual removal of the obstruction is also not advised unless the object is clearly visible and can be safely taken out without pushing it further down. Understanding this sequence is crucial for resolving choking emergencies in infants safely