When should you perform back slaps and chest thrusts?

• A. On adults
• B. On infants only
• C. On older children
• D. On newborns and toddlers

Answer: (B)

When a choking infant is conscious and unable to breathe, the safe, age-appropriate rescue is back slaps followed by chest thrusts. This combination is used specifically for infants under 1 year because their airways are small and more delicate, and abdominal thrusts could cause injury. The back slaps help dislodge the object with a quick, forceful vibration between the shoulder blades, while chest thrusts compress the chest to increase intrathoracic pressure and aid expulsion, using only a couple of fingers to protect the soft infant chest.

This approach isn’t used for adults or older children, where abdominal or other maneuvers are preferred, and it isn’t generally described for toddlers in routine practice. If the infant becomes unresponsive, start CPR and check the mouth for the object before giving rescue breaths.