The paramedic is called for a one year old with a hoarse voice and stridor. Shortly after the paramedic arrives, the patient struggles to breathe. What is the paramedic's next course of action?

The scenario describes a one-year-old child exhibiting signs of stridor and difficulty breathing, indicating a potential airway obstruction. In this context, the most appropriate action is to perform abdominal thrusts, which are designed to expel an obstruction from the airway.

When a child is in respiratory distress due to choking, the priority is to remove the obstruction quickly to restore airflow. Abdominal thrusts apply pressure to the diaphragm, increasing intrathoracic pressure and creating the force needed to expel the foreign object obstructing the airway.

In infants under the age of one, the recommended technique involves back blows and chest thrusts rather than abdominal thrusts. However, the scenario involves a one-year-old, where abdominal thrusts become appropriate if the child is sufficiently larger. Back blows and chest thrusts (the technique for infants) would be implemented if it were specified that the child were younger than one year old.

While there are other methods to assist a child struggling to breathe, the option selected is the most effective for a child who demonstrates observable signs of severe obstruction. Actions such as encouraging the patient to cough or laying the child down are less effective in this acute situation where immediate intervention is warranted. The standing position for abdominal thrusts allows for better leverage and