Very often during teething or loss of vigilance during play, children put small objects into their mouths and may choke. A sharp turn of the head or tongue when feeling a foreign body in the mouth can provoke the object to enter the throat and beyond. For a child, this is fatal if first aid is not provided and the object is not pulled out. Unconditioned reflexes do not always wake up and the child himself spits out the foreign body under the influence of coughing and gag reflex. Children from the age of six months must be taught to handle food and small objects. Even a small piece of bread crust can cause suffocation and death. It is important for parents not to get confused and realize what to do if the child chokes.

How to recognize when a child is choking

A child chokes most often when a loved one is not around and the baby is on his own. In this situation, it is very dangerous not to notice the first signs of air obstruction and suffocation.

The first signs that a child is choking are:

  • eyes wide open and confusion and horror visible on the face;
  • the child began to have a stupor: he cannot cry, breathe, scream, speak;
  • mouth wide open, saliva dripping from the corners;
  • the skin first on the face, then on the whole body turns red, and then turns blue;
  • loss of consciousness.

At the first symptoms, when the child is choking, you should not hesitate and you should immediately call an ambulance and provide first aid.

Advice to parents who have children aged 2-5: don't think that the child is faking when he chokes – often children behave unpredictably when something threatens their life. Distinguish between the emotional state of the baby when he plays and when he is uncomfortable, hurt or unpleasant.

What to do if a child chokes: first aid algorithm

These rules should be known not only by parents, but also by all close people who are close to the child. If the baby is left under the supervision of a grandparent, they should also know what to do if the child chokes or falls, hits his head or knee.

Read also: Colic in a child: how to cure and relieve pain?

Algorithm of action: first aid in case of a foreign body entering the respiratory tract

  1. Raise the child's arms as high as possible. This will ensure the expansion of the airways. Helps if choking on food or liquids.
  2. If the case is more difficult and the first method did not help, you should put the child on the stomach and on the arm, pat the back of the hand between the shoulder blades. This action will help with shallow swallowing of the object.
  3. If steps 1 and 2 do not help, take the child by the legs and lift them up, shaking them a little.
  4. You can also induce vomiting by pressing on the root of the tongue. If you're sure you won't push the item any further.

If the foreign body does not come out, the child retracts the abdomen and cannot breathe, follow these steps:

  1. Call an ambulance.
  2. Turn the child with his back to you, with one hand press on the stomach area. Bend over the child and pat on the back.
  3. Lay the child flat on the floor or bed, and place a blanket under their back so that the head is lower than the torso. Feel the end of the sternum and try to stick your index finger under it. Keep pressing on her until the ambulance arrives.

Don't put your fingers down the throat if the child is choking. Most likely, you will push the object further in this way and aggravate the situation. Moreover, it is impossible to panic – the nerves will be transferred to the child and he may swallow the object even further.

Helmich method: first aid for children after a year

This method is used for children over one year of age and older.

  1. Turn the child's back to you. You can kneel for comfort. Hug the baby around the waist.
  2. Close your hand into a fist, placing it near the baby's navel. Grab your fist with your other hand.
  3. Spread your elbows out to the sides and press on the child's stomach (from top to bottom). Press on the abdomen until a piece of food or an object comes out.

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How to protect your child from getting small objects in the respiratory tract:

  • Do not allow young children to play with toys that include small parts such as building blocks or small dolls with accessories (shoes, crown, belt). Better leave them until a more conscious age.
  • Choose soft toys with lint that won't shed. Keep an eye on the baby during the game so that he does not take the toy in his mouth or pull out the pile.
  • Teach your child how to handle food properly, eat silently and not mess around while eating.
  • Under the age of one, it is advisable for children to chop all food.
  • Try not to force-feed children, as this increases the chances of choking on a piece of food.

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