back blows vs. heimlich

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maverick11

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What factors would help me decide if I should do back-blows or the Heimlich maneuver on a child/infant/baby?
 
If they're too big to easily do the infant backblows/chest compressions, it's probably time to do modified abdominal thrust...
 
does anyone else have some incite on this? like on age?
 
platypus said:
does anyone else have some incite on this? like on age?
Click to expand...

Infant is generally considered to be <1yr, but you can't throw a hard and fast rule down. It's really going to depend on the size of the rescuer and the size of the patient. It's a judgement call. Which EMS seems to hate, but it's the reality of medicine.
 
Your training?

Re-open your text.
(You aren't, like, holding the baby on your knee right now and asking us, are you?) :o
 
That's what the EMTLIFE Facebook page is for.

;).............
 
newborn 0-30 days, infant 30 days to 1 yr old, child 1-8, adult 8+. At least that is what AHA believes.
 
I check the kid's conception date date tag.

B).........
Follow the protocols unless something doesn't make sense.
 
Hold the patient upside down by the ankles, shake vigorously until the object (and lunch money) comes out. Works every time.
 
Stingray91 said:
newborn 0-30 days, infant 30 days to 1 yr old, child 1-8, adult 8+. At least that is what AHA believes.
Click to expand...

For healthcare providers, did the AHA not switch to the onset of puberty being when a child becomes an adult?
 
BEorP said:
For healthcare providers, did the AHA not switch to the onset of puberty being when a child becomes an adult?
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Yes they did.

To the OP, there are 20 lb 4 month olds, and 20 lb 2 year olds. The average motivated rescuer can turn up to a 30 lb kid over their arm for back blows. It varies. As much as we want to know exactly what is going to happen in a given situation, you just have to be able to evaluate your circumstances and make your decision in the moment.
 
Agreed.

Any instructor worth their salt says to see if the patient is big enough for the measure you are about to perform. Also, pregnant, abd wounds, etc.
PS: Due to controvery over whether some of Heimlich's data were bogus but the maneuver judged worthy, his name was removed from it in AHA materials.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Heimlich
 
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