NREMT Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Cognitive ExamAirway, Respiration & VentilationMedium
A 5-year-old child has swallowed a small toy and is now conscious but unable to make any sounds, cough, or cry. They are beginning to turn cyanotic. What is the most appropriate initial intervention?
- AAdminister 5 back blows followed by 5 chest thrusts.
- BPerform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver).
- CPerform a blind finger sweep.
- DAttempt to ventilate with a bag-valve mask.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver).
For a conscious child (over 1 year old) with a severe foreign body airway obstruction (unable to speak, cough, or cry, and turning cyanotic), abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) are the recommended initial intervention to dislodge the object.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. 5 back blows followed by 5 chest thrusts are recommended for infants (under 1 year old) with foreign body airway obstruction.
- C. Blind finger sweeps are not recommended as they can push the object further into the airway.
- D. Attempting to ventilate with a BVM would be ineffective and potentially dangerous with a complete airway obstruction.
Foreign Body Airway Obstruction (FBAO) - Child
A blockage of the airway by a foreign object, requiring immediate intervention to restore breathing.
- Signs of severe obstruction: inability to speak/cough/cry, cyanosis, loss of consciousness.
- For conscious child (>1 year): abdominal thrusts.
- For conscious infant (<1 year): 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts.
Memory trick: Age dictates the push, thrust or pat, to get the breath back.