What technique should be used to relieve choking in an infant?

The technique that is most effective for relieving choking in an infant involves delivering a series of back blows followed by chest thrusts. This approach works by creating a force that can help dislodge an object blocking the airway.

When an infant is choking, their airway may be obstructed, and they cannot make sounds or breathe adequately. Administering back blows entails positioning the infant face down on your forearm and delivering firm hits between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. If this does not clear the obstruction, switching to chest thrusts (using two or three fingers to compress the chest) while the infant is still supported is recommended. This combination of techniques is specifically designed for younger children, as their anatomy is different from that of adults, and traditional methods like abdominal thrusts are not suitable for them.

Other options, such as abdominal thrusts alone or using a suction device, are not appropriate for infants. Lifting the infant upside down is also not a recommended practice, as it could worsen the choking situation or cause injury. Thus, the back blows followed by chest thrusts are the proven, effective method for handling this emergency in infants.