When should you attempt to look in an infant's mouth for an object causing obstruction?

The correct approach is to look in an infant's mouth for an object causing obstruction after completing 30 chest compressions. This protocol is based on the standard Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) guidelines.

During a choking scenario, particularly with infants, the airway may become obstructed by a foreign object. Before looking in the mouth, it is essential to provide immediate chest compressions to help dislodge the object. The compressions are critical as they can generate sufficient pressure in the lungs to expel the object.

Once the compressions have been performed, you then assess the mouth for any visible obstruction. This step is crucial because if you attempt to look in the mouth too early, while still in the midst of attempting to clear the obstruction or without providing compressions, you may lose precious time that could affect the infant's outcome. Moreover, looking into the mouth during ventilation attempts can be distracting and less effective, as the focus should be on ensuring the airway is clear and delivering effective breaths.

Thus, looking in the infant's mouth after completing 30 compressions strikes the right balance between timely intervention and thorough assessment of the airway to provide the best chance for resolution of the obstruction.