New York State Basic Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B) Practice Exam

How is airway obstruction typically managed in a conscious infant?

1. Choking protocol only

2. Suctioning only

3. Back blows and chest thrusts

4. Manual airway repositioning

The correct answer is: Back blows and chest thrusts

In the case of a conscious infant experiencing airway obstruction, the appropriate management technique is to perform back blows and chest thrusts. This method is designed to dislodge an object that is causing the obstruction. The back blows involve delivering a series of forceful slaps between the infant's shoulder blades while they are positioned face down, which can help create enough pressure to potentially dislodge the obstruction. If this action doesn’t resolve the issue, chest thrusts are applied while the infant is in a supine position, and these thrusts aid in further generating pressure in the thoracic cavity, assisting in expelling the foreign object from the airway. Utilizing both techniques together increases the effectiveness and safety of managing an obstructed airway in an infant, as they are gentle yet capable of generating the necessary force without causing additional injury, which is critical with the vulnerable infant population.