Questions And Correct Answers
1. List the steps in treating a conscious child who is choking. p1241-1243: -
encourage child to cough to clear the airway
- if object doesn't completely block air flow and pt is able to breathe, provide oxygen, monitor condition during
transport
-if severe airway obstruction, attempt to clear airway ASAP (signs: inettective cough, inability to speak or cry, increasing
resp diflculty w/stridor, cyanosis, loss of consciousness)
If a child is conscious w/ complete airway obstruction, perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver). Continue until
the obstruction clears or until the child becomes unconscious.
2. List the steps in treating an unconscious child who is choking. p1241-1243: If
there's reason to believe an unconscious child has a foreign body obstruction and there are no suspected spinal injuries,
open airway using head tilt-chin maneuver and look inside mouth to see if obstructive object is visible. If object is visible,
try to remove it using a finger sweep motion. Never do blind finger sweeps, you might push the object further into
airway.
Chest compressions are recommended to relive a severe airway obstruction in an unconscious pediatric pt. Chest
compressions increase the pressure in the chest, creating an artificial cough that may force the foreign body from the
airway
3. List the steps in treating a conscious infant who is choking. p1241-1243: Perform
up to five back blows followed by five chest thrusts
1. position infant facedown on your forearm. Support infant's jaw and head with your hand
2. Use the heel of your other hand to slap the back forcefully five times (between the shoulder blades)
-if airway doesn't clear, flip the infant onto their back, using your hand to support the head. Perform up to five chest
thrusts in the same way you would provide chest compressions for CPR
-repeat process until infant becomes unconscious.
4. Discuss the anatomical changes in a pediatric patient. p244-248: Anatomical
Neonates (birth to 1 month) & Infants (1 month to 1 year)
· Neonate weight:6-8 lbs; 1st week after birth neonate have 5-10% fluid weight loss, weight starts increasing by week
2; infants grow 1oz per day, double weight by 4-6 months, triple by age 1
· Rib cage of infant less rigid, ribs sit horizontally (this explains belly breathing in infants)
· Infant's airway is ditterent from adults: tongue is larger in proportion to oral cavity, airway is proportionally shorter
, and narrower airway obstruction is more common in infants
· Infants lungs are fragile