In the case of a 10-month-old with a partial foreign body obstruction, what should you do?

When dealing with a partial foreign body obstruction in a 10-month-old infant, the appropriate response is to administer back blows and abdominal thrusts. This technique is effective because it can help dislodge the obstruction without causing further harm.

Back blows are delivered by positioning the infant face down on your forearm and striking between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. This action can create enough pressure to help expel the object. If back blows are not sufficient, abdominal thrusts (also known as the Heimlich maneuver) can be performed with the infant in a supine position. For this age group, the thrusts are executed by placing two or three fingers just above the navel and delivering quick inward and upward thrusts.

In this scenario, encouraging the infant to cough is not an immediate action if the obstruction is significant. While coughing can be a natural instinct, it may not be powerful enough if the airway is precariously blocked. Performing chest compressions is also inappropriate in this case, as they are reserved for instances of complete obstruction or cardiac arrest. Using a suction device may not be the best choice either, since it could potentially push the obstruction further down the airway rather than removing it.

In summary, administering back blows and