It came without warning. The day came where my husband saved our son’s life. He is OK. He is perfect…but I am reminded of the day every time I cut up his food way smaller than it would ever need to be.
It came out of nowhere, during what I thought to be harmless post-nap snack. He had eaten strawberries for years but on this day a sweet, juicy strawberry got lodged in his airways. This is something that happens ALL too often, and for us, there was NO warning; not even a cough or a hand gesture.
Later his pediatrician told me that two year olds do not know how to gesture that they’re choking because they aren’t even aware of what is happening. (Duh, Sarah!) It lodged so quickly and so hard all he did was look as if he was about to faint. Which he did. Thank GOD we were watching him eat as we normally do, but you know we all have those moments where we run into the other room to grab something.
My husband knew what was happening. He sprang into action with the Heimlich Maneuver by whacking him about 5 times between the shoulder blades and dislodged the ginormous berry that my child should probably not have been eating whole in the first place. Our son was upset but OK. Later it really sunk in when our pediatrician said, “Your husband saved his life.”
This can happen to anyone, anywhere and it’s called Conscious Choking. Some of the most common choking hazard foods include:
- grapes
- cubed cheese
- strawberries
- peanuts
- carrots
- candy
- popcorn
- apples
- marshmallows
- gumballs (obviously)
- globs of peanut butter
If your child is choking, act FAST to remove the object. In the moment, that is easier said than done. To help you become better prepared, here are some different programs in the area that offer infant and child CPR, Heimlich and safety courses for parents and caretakers.
- American Red Cross offers an in depth printable for Conscious Choking (child or infant), CPR, bleeding, seizures and more. This is a great resource for preparedness – Pediatric Printable.
If you’re like me and needs more of a hands on approach the American Red Cross also offers actual courses for parents for around $90. Search the link below to find classes in Plano, McKinney & Dallas.
Raising tiny humans is scary, but we can be prepared. That day traumatized me where when I watch him eat, like a hawk I might add, he has started to say, “momma, move.” But I can’t move. I just sit there and watch him eat. Even to this day, I make sure he chews it all up so it is “really mushy” before he swallows. I cut his food into the teeniest pieces you ever did see so if he does choke again there will be space between the food for air.
Be brave mommas! Be prepared! Be aware!
