What should be done to clear the airway of a 10-month-old infant who is choking after placing an object in their mouth?

For a 10-month-old infant who is choking, the appropriate technique to clear the airway involves delivering back slaps and chest thrusts. This method is specially designed for infants and helps to create pressure that can dislodge an obstructed object from the airway safely.

The combination of back slaps and chest thrusts capitalizes on the infant's anatomical and physiological characteristics. The back slaps utilize gravitational force to help expel the object, while the chest thrusts apply pressure to the chest, generating effective airflow changes that may dislodge the obstruction.

It is important to note that alternatives, like blind finger sweeps, can potentially push the object further down the airway and cause additional complications. Abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) are not suitable for infants under one year old, as their structure does not support this technique effectively. Attempting to visualize the object in the airway can also be dangerous and is not recommended, as it may lead to further obstruction or injury.

Thus, the correct approach for a choking infant is to perform back slaps and chest thrusts, ensuring a safe and effective method to clear the airway.