For an infant who is conscious and choking, what method should be used?

For an infant who is conscious and choking, the appropriate method is a combination of back slaps and chest thrusts. This approach is specifically designed to create enough pressure in the chest area and facilitate the expulsion of the foreign object obstructing the airway.

Back slaps involve positioning the infant face down across the rescuer's forearm, supporting the infant’s head and neck. This method utilizes gravity and momentum, allowing for effective dislodgement of the object when delivered between the shoulder blades. Following back slaps, chest thrusts are performed while the infant is face-up. This sequence is crucial because it combines the benefits of both techniques: the back slaps create an upward thrust, and the chest thrusts ensure sufficient pressure on the chest to help expel the obstruction.

Other methods, such as abdominal thrusts, are not appropriate for infants due to their anatomical differences and the risk of causing harm. Likewise, merely encouraging a child to cough does not provide adequate assistance if the airway remains blocked. Chest compressions on their own do not address the choking hazard and might exacerbate the situation if performed without alternating with back slaps and thrusts. Thus, the combination of back slaps and chest thrusts stands out as the established and effective