Emergency Tactics

Hey, thanks imquandary but I would never look to an article in a magazine for emergency instructions. I was merely commenting on the article I read here earlier while I was eating lunch. And thanks for clearing up the fact that choking is the part where the victim is conscious. Although, I re-read my comment and fail to see how I needed that cleared up. It is the reason I thought CPR is incorrect for a choking victim (unless the victim is unconscious/unresponsive as mentioned by snmduffy).

Heimlich is an upward thrust to diaphragm posterior to sternum. Never ON the ribs, so it can be done gently and safely on an infant. To clear something up 'milles',choking is the part where they are still consience,you would not perform CPR. When they go 'out' do couple breaths to see if they go in now that everything has loosened up,check for pulse to know if compressions are necessary. 'ylsamaj' and 'milles', articles should not be anyones source for emergency instructions. period!

PLEASE take infant CPR/Choking 1st Aid ASAP! This info is right. You can't do the Heimlich on an infant, you will crush their ribs and kill them. Back thrusts and chest thrusts (which are similiar to CPR compressions) are doing the same thing...trying to dislodge the object from airway. If back thrusts don't work, you must flip them over and try the chest thrusts. If it's still stuck, you must continue the CPR chest compressions to keep blood and oxygen flowing until paramedics arrive.

I am an ER nurse and a CPR instructor. I agree, the heimlich manuver is the first step if the child is conscious. However, once the child becomes unconscious, CPR is the course of action to remove the object. The force of compressions on the chest forces air out of the lungs and will hopefully dislodge the object far enough to allow air movement.

To "anonymous," what are you talking about? Nowhere in the article does it give any instructions to perform the Heimlich on anyone, let alone instructions for performing it on an infant. I agree with ylsamaj 100%. CPR for choking is ridiculous. How can you perform CPR with something blocking the child's airway??? Stupid.

I did not see where it mentioned heimlich either.

ylsamaj, The first two steps were the heimlich for an infant. The article then stated if your child still isn't breathing............... then described CPR

Give CPR for Choking? What?!! What about the Heimlich? This is misleading and incorrect advice. This article should not be taken as sound advice.