Oh, as parents, one of the things we all fear the most is when our little one chokes. We can't even imagine what to do at that time, right? But if we don't panic and know the right things, we can save our children from this dangerous situation. So today, let's talk about choking and what we should do if it happens.
What are the symptoms of shortness of breath?
There are several signs that a child is choking. If you see these, don't forget to take immediate action .
- Difficulty breathing, gasping or wheezing: If you are struggling to breathe like a fish out of water, that is one sign.
- Unable to speak, cry, or make any sounds: When something is stuck in the throat, the child may not only be unable to speak, but also unable to cry.
- The face starts to turn blue: When there is a lack of oxygen, the skin, especially around the lips and nails, turns blue. This is a very dangerous sign .
- Grabbing the throat or waving the hands: Even though the child doesn't know how to say that they are uncomfortable, they try to show it through things like this.
- They look very nervous and scared: Anyone would be scared when they suddenly can't breathe. Even small children are like that.
- Fainting or loss of consciousness: If the condition is severe, the child may faint and lose consciousness.
If you see one or more of these symptoms, it should be considered an emergency .
What do I do if my child is choking?
Okay, now let's see what we should do if a child is choking. The first thing is not to panic. If you panic, you won't be able to do anything right.
1. Call 1990 immediately (or tell someone nearby to call): Every second counts at a time like this. There are things you can do until medical help arrives, but it is essential to get professional help quickly.
2. If you have been trained in Abdominal Thrusts (Heimlich Maneuver), do it immediately: This is a special method that helps to remove something stuck in the throat. However, do not try it if you do not know how to do it properly. If done incorrectly, it can cause further harm to the child. Therefore, it is very important to have been trained in this.
Don't mention these things!
Some things we do unknowingly when we are short of breath can make the situation worse. So be careful not to do these things.
- Do not try to reach into your mouth to remove the stuck object: Even if you can see it, if you reach in, it could push it further in and completely block your airway.
- Don't pat your child on the back: Usually, we pat our child on the back when they have a cough. But if we do that when they are short of breath, the stuff that is stuck in their throat can go deeper. Think of it like something stuck in a bottle. If we pat them on the back, there's a greater chance that it will go deeper, right?
The most important thing: If the baby is breathing well, talking, or crying even though the blockage is visible, it means the airway is not completely blocked. Don't panic and do anything at that time. Let the baby cough it out on its own.
Remember these things too.
We are also aware of several other special occasions.
- If the child is coughing and wheezing, but can breathe and talk: This means that the airway is not completely blocked at this point. It is best to do nothing at this point. The child will be able to cough and expel it on their own. The child will probably be fine once the coughing stops.
- If the child is choking, unconscious, and not breathing: Tell someone immediately and call 911. If you know how to perform CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), start it immediately. This is a very important thing that can save a life.
- Take your child to the emergency room (ETU) immediately after any severe choking: especially if there is a persistent cough, wheezing, or difficulty breathing or swallowing. Sometimes a small piece of the object may have gone into the lungs.
What helps prevent suffocation?
"Prevention is better than cure," they say. So there are many things we can do to protect our little ones from this choking hazard.
Be careful with food.
Young children's throats are very small, and they are still learning how to chew and swallow food properly.
- Avoid giving children under 4 years old foods that can easily choke. For example:
- Nuts like cashews and peanuts
- Raw carrots
- Popcorn
- Hard or gooey candy
- When serving foods like hot dogs and grapes, cut them into very small pieces . Even a grape can be cut into quarters, which is even better.
- When feeding, be especially careful with small, ball-like items (e.g. peanuts, chickpeas).
Think about these things while eating.
The way you eat also affects your breath.
- When feeding children, make them sit in one place and feed them. Don't let them run around and eat.
- Teach them to eat in small mouthfuls . Make them understand that they should not put a large piece of food in their mouth at once.
- From a young age, teach your child not to talk or laugh with food in their mouth, because that increases the chance that food will enter their airways.
Let's make the home environment safe too
Small things we don't even think about can get into children's hands and put them in their mouths.
- Be careful of all small objects that have fallen to the ground: Don't let children pick up things like burst balloons, pen caps, coins, beads, and small batteries (especially button batteries in watches and toys). Remove these as soon as you see them.
- Imagine that Nimali's little baby was playing and put a small battery on the floor in its mouth. Oh my God, you can't even imagine what would happen at that time, can you? That's why we have to be very careful.
- Do not leave toys and gadgets with small parts where children can get hold of them: Especially check toys given to children under 3 years old for small, detachable parts.
Let's learn about first aid.
This is something every parent, everyone who cares for children, should do.
- Learn how to perform abdominal thrusts and CPR: These are usually taught in any basic first aid course. This knowledge can help save a life in an emergency.
- You might think, "Oh, I can do that?" But learning these things isn't as difficult as you think. All you need is a little interest.
Brief points to remember
I'll remind you again of the most important points from what we've talked about.
- If you see signs of suffocation in a child (blue face, inability to speak, difficulty breathing) , call 1990 immediately.
- Don't put your hand in your mouth or pat yourself on the back unless you have training.
- If the child is crying and talking, don't worry. The airway is not completely blocked.
- If unconscious, begin CPR if you are trained.
- The best way to prevent choking is to be careful. Be careful when giving food, toys, and the home environment.
- It is very important for every parent to be aware of first aid (especially Abdominal Thrusts and CPR).
Remember, your awareness and quick action are the greatest strength you have in saving your child's life. Let's all be prepared to face such a situation without fear and with awareness.
` Choking, child safety, first aid, Heimlich maneuver, CPR, emergencies
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