WATCHING your child almost die has to be every parent’s worst nightmare.
This horror became a reality for one mum, who’s simple mistake almost cost her little girl her life.
GettyOlivia had gone to chew a grape which got stuck in her throat[/caption]
InstagramThe grape which little Olivia got stuck in her throat[/caption]
Posting to Tiny Hearts Education’s Instagram page, the mum shared her story to make other parents aware of the dangers of certain foods.
She had made her daughter Olivia, four, and son Oscar a snack comprising of a handful of grapes and some dried cereal.
“It was the first time since hearing about that poor child who died choking on a grape that I didn’t cut them in half,” she said.
“I figured: she’s almost five, she isn’t the kind of kid to shovel food and choke.” she added.
But moments later, the mum heard her daughter and “knew in an instant what had happened”.
“I ran to her – she couldn’t breathe,” she said.
Olivia had gone to chew a grape and it had shot to the back of her throat and got wedged.
Recalling the horrific moment, the mum said she turned Olivia over and “hit her as hard as I could between the shoulder blades”.
“She was looking me dead in the eyes, her lips turned blue as she couldn’t breathe at all,” she said.
The mum’s partner, Jaimie, managed to perform “some manoeuvre” that sent the grape “flying across the room”, she explained.
She is now calling on all parents to learn first aid.
“Please let this be a reminder to all the parents out there – my life nearly changed forever last night all because of my carelessness,” the mum added.
How to stop a child choking
Here’s how to stop a child choking:
Stand or kneel behind your chid
Clench your fist and place it between the navel and ribs
Grasp this hand with your other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards
Repeat up to five times
Make sure you don’t apply pressure to the lower ribcage, as this may cause damage
Call 999 if the blockage doesn’t come out after trying back blows and either chest or abdominal thrusts. Keep trying this cycle until help arrives.
Even if the object has come out, get medical help. Part of the object might have been left behind, or your child might have been hurt by the procedure.
Source: NHS