Over 70% of the time, babies choke on pen caps. It’s the small things that you don’t notice that catch a baby’s eye and end up in its mouth. Prevention is the best medicine if possible, but if the little one moves a little faster than you, at least you’ll be prepared.
A baby will not be able to tell you if he or she is choking. You will have to ascertain if there are breathing or guttural sounds coming from the infant. If not, proceed with the Heimlich maneuver.
Place the baby on its back on a firm surface and kneel or stand at its feet.
The other option is to hold the baby on your lap facing away from you.
Either way, place the middle and index fingers of both of your hands on its upper abdomen (below the ribcage and above the navel).
Push in with fast, upward thrusts gently.
Repeat until the object blocking the baby’s airway is expelled.
For Yourself
If you’re alone and you start to choke or no one else around you is acting quickly enough, take care of things yourself.
If you can’t speak or breathe and you have something stuck in your throat, you need to give yourself the Heimlich maneuver if no one else around is qualified.
Make a fist and push the thumb side of your fist into your upper abdomen (below the ribcage and above the navel).
Take hold of your fist with your other hand and push into your upper abdomen with a fast, upward thrust.
Repeat until the object blocking your airway is expelled.
Alternative Heimlich for Yourself
You may not feel like you have the energy to give yourself powerful thrusts, in which case the assistance of a piece of furniture or railing will come in handy.
Bend over an immovable, hard, horizontal object (chair, railing, table edge) and press your upper abdomen against the edge to create the fast, upward thrust.
Repeat until the object blocking your airway is expelled.