Emergency Medicine EOR Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Study Resource

For infants under 1 year old experiencing foreign body aspiration, back blows are indicated as a primary treatment method. This approach is effective because it uses gravitational force and controlled impact to help expel an obstructing object from the airway. When performing back blows, the infant is placed face down on the rescuer's forearm, and the rescuer delivers firm blows between the infant's shoulder blades with the heel of their hand. This method is designed to create sufficient airflow pressure to dislodge the foreign body.

In contrast, the Heimlich maneuver is not recommended for infants due to their anatomical differences and developmental stage. It can cause injury to their internal organs. Throat sweeps and chest compressions are also inappropriate for infants in this situation. Throat sweeps are not recommended as they can push the object further down the airway, and chest compressions are not the primary method for addressing airway obstruction in this age group. Thus, back blows remain the safest and most effective approach for managing foreign body aspiration in infants.