During pediatric foreign body airway obstruction, if a conscious infant under 1 year becomes unresponsive after initial relief measures, what is the recommended action?

• A. Begin CPR
• B. Reattempt back blows
• C. Remove visible object with finger sweep
• D. Call for help only

Answer: (A)

When an infant who has had relief measures for a choking event becomes unresponsive, the priority switches to delivering life support through CPR. The goal is to restore circulation and oxygenation quickly, because unresponsiveness indicates the airway and breathing are not being adequately maintained. Start infant CPR immediately, rather than retrying back blows or waiting to act. Give cycles of chest compressions and rescue breaths appropriate for an infant (for example, compress the chest with two fingers on the center of the chest just below the nipple line, about one third of the chest depth, at a rate around 100–120 compressions per minute, followed by 2 breaths). Continue CPR until help arrives or the infant shows signs of life. If you can clearly see a visible object in the airway, you may remove it with a finger sweep only if you can see it; avoid blind attempts to sweep. In parallel, call for help and have EMS respond as soon as possible.