First aid for an unconscious baby depends on what caused the baby to become unconscious. The baby may become unconscious due to a head injury due to a fall or convulsion, because he is choked or any other reason why the baby can not breathe alone.
However, in any case it is necessary to:
- Call immediately to the 192 and call an ambulance or SAMU;
- Evaluate if the baby is breathing and if the heart is beating.
If your baby up to 1 year old is choked
If your baby is not breathing because he or she is choking, you should:
- Check for any objects in the baby's mouth;
- Remove the object from the baby's mouth with only two fingers in a single attempt;
- If you can not remove the object, sit the baby on his lap, position his head close to the knees and give him 5 pat on the baby's back, as picture 1 shows;
- Turn the baby over and check if he came back to breathe alone. If the baby is still not breathing, do cardiac massage with just two fingers, as shown in figure 2;
- Wait for medical help to arrive.
If your baby is over 1 year old choked
If your baby is more than 1 year old choked and does not breathe, you should:
- Hold the baby from behind and give 5 pat on the back;
- Turn the baby over and check if he came back to breathe alone. If the baby is still not breathing, do the Heimlich maneuver, holding the baby behind, clenching the cuffs and pushing inwards and upwards, as picture 3 shows;
- Wait for medical help to arrive.
If the baby's heart is not beating, cardiac massage and mouth-to-mouth breathing should be performed.
Useful links:
- How to Do Cardiac Massage on Babies
- How To Make a Baby Shower
