Babies and young children can choke on anything smaller than a D-size battery. To prevent choking, keep small objects out of reach, cut up food into small pieces, and supervise children while they’re eating, especially if they’re under five years.

If a baby shows signs of choking, phone 000 immediately and follow the steps to clear a blockage (shown below). The operator will stay on the line.

If a child shows signs of choking, stay calm and ask him to cough to help remove the object. If a child can talk, cry and cough, stay with him while you phone 000. If a child is struggling to talk, cry or cough, phone 000 and follow the steps to clear a blockage (shown below).

Lay baby downwards on your forearm. Hold baby’s mouth open with your fingers and using the heel of your hand, give her a firm back blow between the shoulder blades. Give up to five back blows, and check between each blow to see if the blockage has cleared.

If the blockage hasn’t cleared, lay baby on her back, place two fingers in the centre of her chest, and give her up to five chest thrusts – like CPR compressions but slower and sharper. Check to see if the blockage has cleared between each thrust.

If baby is still choking, alternate five back blows and five chest thrusts until emergency help arrives. If baby becomes unconscious, start baby CPR.

Bend the child forward and use the heel of your hand to give a sharp back blow between the shoulder blades. Look to see if the blockage has cleared before giving another blow. If the blockage hasn’t cleared after five blows, try chest thrusts.

Place one hand in the middle of the child’s back and the other hand in the centre of his chest. Using the heel of the hand on the chest, do five chest thrusts – like CPR compressions but slower and sharper. Check to see if the blockage has cleared between each thrust.

If the child is still choking, alternate five back blows and five chest thrusts until emergency help arrives. If the child becomes unconscious, start child CPR.