Is a blind finger sweep permissible on an infant or child?

• A. Yes
• B. Sometimes
• C. No
• D. Only with gloves

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that a blind finger sweep should not be used to treat an airway obstruction in infants or children. Performing a sweep without seeing the object can push the blockage deeper into the airway, cause mucosal injury, or trigger a dangerous vagal response, which is especially risky in infants whose airways are tiny and more easily disrupted.

If you cannot clearly see and grab the obstructing object, you should not sweep. Instead, use age-appropriate techniques to relieve the obstruction: for an infant, deliver five back blows between the shoulder blades with the infant held face-down over your forearm, then five chest thrusts if needed; for a conscious older child, use abdominal ( Heimlich ) or chest thrusts as appropriate. If the child becomes unresponsive, start CPR and, when opening the airway, look for the object and remove it only if you can see and safely grasp it; do not perform a blind sweep. Wearing gloves does not make a blind finger sweep safe.