When a small toy or food gets stuck inside your child’s wind pipe and blocks the passage of air, then your child is choking. The air passage would be either completely or partially blocked. This will obstruct the breathing and without proper supply of oxygen, your child’s brain can get permanently damaged. But, by following some of these steps, you can easily save your child’s life.  These steps are applicable for adult and children above the age of 1.

• Heimlich maneuver:

1. Stand at the back of the person and wrap your hands around his/her waist.
2. Make a fist. Keep your thumb inward and place the fist just above his/her belly button (just above the person’s navel).
3. Grasp the fist with your other hand make quick inward thrusts with your fists.
   (In the case of pregnant or obese people, wrap your arms around the person’s chest place your fist in the middle of the breast bone and make backward thrusts).

• If you can see the obstructing thing in your child’s mouth, try to remove it. If he/she is conscious, do not try to pull the object.
• If the object comes out, and your child is still not breathing, call 911.
• If the person is able to breathe and is coughing forcefully, do not interfere unless the person’s situation worsens.
• If necessary, provide CPR or rescue breathing.
• For those babies who are under 1 year of age:  Make the infant face down supporting the head and neck. Between the infant’s shoulder blades, deliver four back blows forcefully with the heel of your hand. Immediately, supporting the baby’s head, turn the baby on its back. Give 4 chest thrusts using your two fingers. 

Around 3000 deaths in a year is caused due to choking of airway passage due to obstructed caused by foreign bodies. To avoid this, ask your child to chew food slowly and thoroughly. While having food, do not encourage your child to laugh or talk. Keep small toys and other household things out of the reach of children.