Oh, what if something gets stuck in the baby's throat? (Choking) Let's find out for sure without panicking?

As a mother and father, we all care a lot about our little ones. Even if they have a small cold, we feel a great burden on our hearts. So, how worried would you be if something you were eating or playing with suddenly got stuck in your throat (choking)? But more important than worrying is knowing exactly what to do in such a situation. Today, let's talk about this choking in detail.

What is Choking? Let's understand it exactly.

Simply put, choking is when something, be it a piece of food or a small piece of a toy, gets stuck in our baby's throat, that is, in the trachea (windpipe) – the way we breathe. When this happens, air doesn't get into or out of the lungs properly. Then the baby can't breathe properly.

Now look, our throat has a very strange defense system. At the back of the throat, the food pipe (esophagus) and the windpipe (trachea) are both right next to each other. But above this windpipe, there's a little flap of tissue called the epiglottis . When we swallow something, this flap of tissue closes off the windpipe. Then the food goes straight into the esophagus. Isn't it amazing?

But sometimes, for example, when you swallow a small piece of food or when you are chewing, this door called the uvula may not close at the right time. That's when the piece of food or something else goes "the wrong way," that is, into the windpipe. We say it "gets stuck in the throat" or "goes the wrong way."

Most of the time, the food or small object that gets stuck in this way doesn't completely block the airway. Then the baby can cough. After a good cough or two, the stuck object comes out , and breathing becomes normal again. Even if the baby is a little uncomfortable or a little upset, everything will be fine in a few minutes.

When does choking become an accident?

However, sometimes the blockage can completely block the airway. That's when it becomes a life-threatening emergency. Because air can't get in or out of the lungs, the brain doesn't get the oxygen it needs.

Look out for these signs to help you know if your baby is choking and needs immediate help:

• Unable to breathe: The chest does not rise and fall, and it seems like you are trying to breathe, but no air is getting in.
• Wheezing: Wheezing or a strange, strangled sound is heard when breathing.
• You cannot speak, cry, or make a sound: When your throat is completely blocked, you cannot make a sound.
• Turning blue: The lips, tongue, and sometimes the face begin to turn blue. This is a major sign of lack of oxygen.
• Grabbing throat and flailing arms and legs: The baby grabs his throat and flails his arms to show his discomfort.
• He looks very nervous: his eyes are wide with fear and he seems nervous.
• Loss of consciousness and unconsciousness: If the condition is severe, the baby may become lifeless and lose consciousness.

If you see any of these symptoms, it's an emergency! That's when we should use the first aid method called the Heimlich Maneuver or Abdominal Thrusts .

What is the Heimlich Maneuver? How is it done?

Moms and dads, if you have young children, it's very, very important to practice CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and the Heimlich Maneuver properly. Even if you don't have young children, knowing these first aid techniques can help save someone's life.

What happens in the Heimlich Maneuver is that when we give a proper push on someone's stomach (more precisely, on the diaphragm), an airway suddenly comes up through the trachea and expels the stuck object out of the mouth.

Although this method may seem simple, it is something that must be done with great care, especially with small babies. It is safest to have someone who is trained to do this properly. If done incorrectly, the trapped person – especially a small baby or child – can be injured.

Important: The Heimlich Maneuver is performed differently for babies under one year old. The method is designed to avoid harming their tiny bodies.

CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver are usually taught in First-Aid courses. You can find out more about these courses from the Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, some hospitals, or community health centers.

What do we do if a baby is choking?

First of all, remember that in the event of serious choking, you should immediately call 1990. That is the emergency ambulance service in Sri Lanka.

Now let's look at the different situations you may face and how to deal with them:

Situation 1: If the baby is choking, but is coughing, breathing, and able to talk

This means that the airway is not completely blocked.

• The best thing to do at this time is to do nothing. Just watch the baby closely until he is completely well. After a good cough, the problem will often resolve itself.
• Do not reach into your mouth to pull out the stuck object or pat it on the back. Doing so can push the stuck object further in and make the situation worse.
• It's also very important to stay close to the baby and not worry. Stay calm until the baby recovers.

Situation 2: The baby is conscious, but cannot breathe, speak, or make a sound. If it turns blue

This is an emergency situation. You need to perform the Heimlich Maneuver .

• Call 1990 immediately, or ask someone nearby to call.
• Only perform the Heimlich Maneuver if you are trained to do so.
• If you are not trained, and there is no one else nearby who is, wait until help arrives. Don't panic and do the wrong thing.

Situation 3: If the baby is choking, is now unconscious, and does not seem to be breathing.

This is also a very serious situation.

• Call for help immediately, call 1990, or tell someone nearby to call.
• If you are trained to give CPR, start it.
• If you are not trained, and there is no one else nearby who is, wait for help to arrive.

When should I see a doctor? Or go to the hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) ?

After a major choking incident, even if the baby appears to be doing well, you should definitely take the baby to the hospital's emergency room (ER).

Seek emergency medical attention immediately if you have these symptoms:

• If your baby has a persistent cough, drooling, nausea, wheezing, difficulty swallowing, or difficulty breathing .
• If the baby turns blue, becomes lifeless, or loses consciousness during the choking episode – don't forget this, even if it seems to get better later.
• If you think your baby has swallowed something like a piece of a toy, a coin, or a battery (especially a battery, which is very dangerous) , go to the hospital immediately.

But if your baby is just a little constipated, has a good latch, and seems to be completely fine, there's no need to go to the emergency room. But it's a good idea to call your family doctor and tell him about the incident. The doctor can then do further testing if necessary.

How do you prevent choking? This is the most important thing!

"Prevention is better than cure," they say. So the best thing we can do is to prevent this choking from happening.

Children under the age of 3 are at the highest risk of choking. There are several reasons for this:

• Little ones put everything in their mouths. It's their way of exploring the world.
• Their trachea is very small and can easily become blocked.
• Also, they aren't yet used to chewing and swallowing food properly, so they try to swallow some things all at once.

So, there are a few things we can do to protect our little ones from this danger:

• Avoid giving foods that can choke:
• Hot dogs, whole grapes, raw carrot sticks, nuts like peanuts, raisins, hard and gummy candies, spoonfuls of peanut butter, large pieces of meat, cheese, and popcorn are all things that can cause choking in babies. These are difficult to swallow or are the same size as a baby's windpipe.
• When serving food, cut it into small pieces:
• Even a grape should be quartered. If you are serving hot dogs , cut them lengthwise and then into small pieces (even better if you remove the skin). It is safer to serve vegetables boiled and mashed than raw.
• Teach order during mealtimes:
• Teach your baby to sit in one place when eating meals and snacks. There is a high chance of choking if your baby jumps up and down while eating.
• Teach them to talk with food in their mouths and not to smile .
• Also pay attention to toys and small items at home:
• Uninflated balloons, coins, small pieces of arts and crafts supplies, water beads, small pieces of toys, especially button batteries, are very dangerous. These can easily be swallowed.
• Kneel on the floor and check for any small items that have fallen:
• If you have babies who are crawling or starting to walk, always kneel on the floor and look at their eye level to see if there are any small objects they could put in their mouths. Also be careful of places like under sofas and chairs.
• Choose age-appropriate, safe toys:
• When buying toys , check the age limit on them. Some toys have small parts that can be a choking hazard.
• > You can easily do a test. Take an empty toilet paper roll and if a toy or piece of a toy easily slides out of it, it's small enough for a baby to swallow, meaning it's likely to be a choking hazard.

Above all, it is essential that all parents, caregivers (grandparents, babysitters) are trained in CPR and First Aid. It could save your child's life or someone else's.

Final Take-Home Message

Choking is something that can happen to young children. But if we are aware of it, try our best to prevent it, and know what to do in an emergency, we can greatly reduce this risk.

• Prevention is the best thing to do. Be very careful when feeding, giving toys, and setting up the home environment.
• Recognize the symptoms of an emergency.
• Learn first-aid and CPR. It will give you great confidence and ability.
• Don't panic, do the right thing.

There is no greater joy than seeing your baby healthy and happy. So, let's keep these facts in mind and protect our little ones.

` Choking, choking, child choking, first aid, Heimlich maneuver, CPR, child safety