A 6-month-old child who is choking should be treated with which maneuver?

• A. Blind finger sweeps until obstruction cleared
• B. Back blows and chest thrusts
• C. Heimlich maneuver on infants
• D. Chest compressions only

Answer: (B)

When an infant under one year is choking, the recommended maneuver is back blows followed by chest thrusts to push the obstruction out of the airway. This method suits infants because their airway and chest are soft, and abdominal thrusts (the adult Heimlich maneuver) can cause internal injury. Start with the infant facedown along your forearm, head lower than the chest, and deliver five firm back blows between the shoulder blades. If the object doesn’t dislodge, flip the infant and place two fingers on the lower half of the sternum to give five chest thrusts, pressing about 1.5 inches. Repeat these cycles until the obstruction is cleared or the infant becomes unresponsive. Avoid blind finger sweeps—they can push the object deeper or cause injury. Chest compressions alone aren’t the right approach for a conscious choking infant; if the infant becomes unresponsive, begin CPR with compressions and rescue breaths and check the airway for visible, removable obstruction.