Choking Infant and back slaps?

Rob27, BSN, RN · Apr 11, 2011

The American Heart Assoc. calls them back blows. Uses the words "gentle blows". I mean I am not sure of any type measurment for this. This is according to my CPR & First Aid book from them.

hope1234 · Apr 11, 2011

Since there is no measurement for "hard", I would imagine that u would use common sense. Hard enough to dislodge whatever they r choking on, without beatin the crap out of them.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Apr 11, 2011

And watch out for Shaking Baby Syndrome. I saw someone once who thought her small child was choking, she started smacking the back so hard and fast the head was jerking everywhere. I had to jump in and stop her. She was scared and panicked and wasn't thinking, and the baby was crying normally so was getting air. But man, it was scary to see that head bopping around.

BluegrassRN · Apr 14, 2011

I've done it twice, and each time my adrenaline was so high, there wasn't a problem of doing it "too hard" but rather the problem is trying to *not* strike so hard. If you cradle the head properly, there shouldn't be an issue of shaken baby...if you can't keep the head stable while doing back blows, you're probably doing them too hard and need to soften up a bit. My two instances were on older infants/young toddlers, fwiw.