back blows vs. heimlich

[maverick11]

What factors would help me decide if I should do back-blows or the Heimlich maneuver on a child/infant/baby?

 

[usalsfyre]

If they're too big to easily do the infant backblows/chest compressions, it's probably time to do modified abdominal thrust...

 

[platypus]

does anyone else have some incite on this? like on age?

 

[usalsfyre]

does anyone else have some incite on this? like on age?

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.

 

[mycrofft]

Your training?

Re-open your text.
(You aren't, like, holding the baby on your knee right now and asking us, are you?)

 

[Handsome Rob]

(You aren't, like, holding the baby on your knee right now and asking us, are you?)

that cracks me up. and scares me.

 

[mycrofft]

That's what the EMTLIFE Facebook page is for.

.............

 

[Stingray91]

newborn 0-30 days, infant 30 days to 1 yr old, child 1-8, adult 8+. At least that is what AHA believes.

 

[mycrofft]

I check the kid's conception date date tag.

B).........
Follow the protocols unless something doesn't make sense.

 

[Chief Complaint]

Hold the patient upside down by the ankles, shake vigorously until the object (and lunch money) comes out. Works every time.

 

[BEorP]

newborn 0-30 days, infant 30 days to 1 yr old, child 1-8, adult 8+. At least that is what AHA believes.

For healthcare providers, did the AHA not switch to the onset of puberty being when a child becomes an adult?

 

[abckidsmom]

For healthcare providers, did the AHA not switch to the onset of puberty being when a child becomes an adult?

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.

 

[mycrofft]

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