A PARAMEDIC has issued a stark warning to parents about the dangers of nuts for young children by sharing a disturbing video.
The clip, posted to Instagram by first aid organisation Tiny Hearts Education, shows a peanut being removed from a baby girl’s lung.
The video shows a peanut being removed from a baby girl’s lung
The nut became lodged in the infant’s airways – formally known as aspiration.
This occurs when something accidentally enters the airway tube and travels down to the lungs instead of entering the food tube and travelling down to the stomach.
Luckily, medics were able to retrieve the snack by performing an endoscopy.
Tiny Hearts founder and paramedic Nikki Jurcutz said “This is a great reminder about why we say no whole nuts for children under five.”
Aspiration can cause serious health concerns, such as pneumonia, as the foreign material in the lungs can affect oxygen levels and damage lung tissue.
According to the NHS, aspiration pneumonia may happen after accidentally breathing in something, such a small piece of food.
It is important to note that there is a difference between aspiration and choking, which is when there is something stuck in the airway that is either partially or completely blocking the flow of air in and out.
Whereas, aspiration is when a foreign material in the lungs is affecting oxygen levels and damaging lung tissue.
Little ones will present aspiration with a mild airway obstruction where the child will cough and splutter.
The foreign material, such as a nut, will then make its way down to the lungs.
However, if any of the following symptoms arise, call 999 or go to the emergency room:
choking or a blocked airwaynoisy breathingbluish skin or nailschest painwheezing
Symptoms of aspiration do not always present themselves immediately — they may take hours or days to develop.
See a medic if the following symptoms occur after aspiration:
a feverincreased mucus productionchronic coughingcoughing up bloodfoul-smelling mucus
WHAT TO DO
In a previous video, the first aid expert says parents must encourage their child to cough if they are suffering with a partial obstruction with aspiration.
For young children, you should demonstrate coughing and show them what they need to do.
If they are unable to clear the obstruction you should call 999.
If it’s cleared, but your little one is still showing signs then you should call 111 or seek immediate advice from a medical practitioner.
For children who have a severe obstruction with aspiration, you must call 999 immediately.
To remove the obstruction, Nikki explained you need to deliver five back blows, checking the airway after each one.
If the airway is still obstructed, you then need to deliver five chest thrusts, checking the airway after each one.
You should continue this pattern until the obstruction clears. In the event of your child becoming unconscious, you should start CPR.
HOW TO PERFORM CPR ON CHILD
Here’s St John Ambulance‘s ultimate guide to first aid as a parent…
Baby
Slap it out:
Lay the baby face down along your thigh and support their head Give five back blows between their shoulder blades Turn them over and check their mouth each time
2. Squeeze it out:
Turn the baby over, face upwards, supported along your thigh Put two fingers in the centre of their chest just below the nipple line; push downwards to give up to five sharp chest thrusts Check the mouth each time
3. If the item does not dislodge, call 999 or 112 for emergency help
Take the baby with you to call Repeat the steps 1 and 2 until help arrives Start CPR if the baby becomes unresponsive (unconscious)
Child
1. Cough it out
Encourage the casualty to keep coughing, if they can
2. Slap it out
Lean them forwards, supporting them with one hand Give five sharp back blows between the shoulder blades Check their mouth each time but do not put your fingers in their mouth
3. Squeeze it out
Stand behind them with your arms around their waist, with one clenched fist between their belly button and the bottom of their chest Grasp the fist in the other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards, giving up to five abdominal thrusts Check their mouth each time
4. Call 999 or 112 for emergency help if the object does not dislodge
Repeat steps 2 and 3 until help arrives Start CPR if the person becomes unresponsive (unconscious)
5. Always seek medical advice if abdominal thrusts are used