You are alone and caring for a 9-month-old infant with an obstructed airway who becomes unresponsive. Which action should you perform first?
Select the correct answer to this question.
Check for breathing and a pulse.
Look in the mouth for the object, and remove it with your pinky if you can see it.
Provide 5 back blows.
Provide 30 chest compressions.
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is:
Provide 30 chest compressions.
Explanation:
When a 9-month-old infant has an obstructed airway and becomes unresponsive, your first priority is to provide 30 chest compressions immediately. This is because the airway blockage may have caused the heart to stop or led to severe oxygen deprivation. Chest compressions help circulate oxygen-rich blood to the brain and other vital organs while also potentially dislodging the obstruction.
Step-by-Step Response:
- Confirm unresponsiveness – Tap the infant’s foot and shout their name to see if they respond.
- Call for emergency help – If you are alone, provide 2 minutes of care before calling emergency services (911).
- Start 30 chest compressions:
- Place two fingers on the center of the infant’s chest, just below the nipple line.
- Compress 1.5 inches deep at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute.
- Check the mouth – After 30 compressions, open the infant’s mouth and look for the object. If visible, remove it with your pinky finger using a sweeping motion. Do not blindly sweep if you don’t see the object, as it may push the obstruction deeper.
- Provide rescue breaths – If the object is removed and the infant is not breathing, give 2 rescue breaths.
- Repeat compressions and breaths until the object is expelled, the infant starts breathing, or emergency help arrives.
Why Not the Other Options?
- Checking for breathing and a pulse first? → Delays critical action; if the infant is unresponsive, assume no pulse and begin compressions.
- Looking in the mouth first? → Only do this after chest compressions; blindly sweeping could push the object further.
- Providing back blows? → Back blows are for conscious choking infants. If they become unresponsive, switch to chest compressions.
Conclusion:
Immediate chest compressions increase survival chances and may help dislodge the obstruction.