The FIRST AID grans need to know
For babies (under 12 months)
Choking
1. Lay baby face down on your thigh, supporting their head
2. Give up to five back blows between their shoulder blades with heel of your hand
3. Turn them over and check their mouth for obvious obstructions you can pick out
4. If that doesn’t work, find the breastbone and place two fingers in the middle. Give five chest thrusts
5. Failing that, call 999 while repeating steps 1-4. If the baby loses consciousness or stops breathing, then perform CPR .
CPR
For use if a baby stops breathing or becomes unconscious for any reason
1. Take a breath and place lips around their mouth and nose, forming an airtight seal, blow steadily until their chest rises, remove and allow the chest to fall. Repeat four times
2. Place two fingertips on the centre of baby’s chest and press down vertically until chest compresses by a third, release pressure without removing your fingers. Repeat this compression 30 times at the speed of the Bee Gees song, ‘Staying Alive’
3. Give two rescue breaths followed by 30 compressions until help arrives
4. When baby starts breathing, stop CPR and cradle them in your arms, head tilted down
For a child/young adult Choking
1. Give five back blows between shoulders, checking their mouth each time
2. Failing that, stand behind them making sure they’re bent well forward, link your hands with your lower hand clenched in a fist between their tummy button and bottom of their chest. Pull sharply inwards and upwards five times
3. If they’re still choking, call 999. If they lose consciousness or stop breathing, then perform CPR.
CPR
For use if a child stops breathing or becomes unconscious for any reason
1. Kneel down beside them, pinch their nose, take a breath and seal yout lips around their mouth. Blow steadily until the chest rises.
2. Repeat four times and give 30 chest compressions to the beat of ‘Staying Alive’
3. Give two rescue breaths followed by 30 compressions until help arrives
4. If child breathes normally again, put them in the recovery position – lie them on their back, place arm nearest to you at a right angle, hand facing up, tuck other hand to the opposite side of their head, bend knee of furthest leg at a right angle and roll them onto their side. Tilt head back and lift chin.