What do you do when a child chokes?
A pediatrician explains
July-August are months when unfortunately more children are injured in the home sector.
Suffocation is the third most common cause of death in children, so special attention should be paid to infants and toddlers.
An expert explains what to do in a choking situation and what should be the most careful?
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health
07/27/2022
Wednesday, July 27, 2022, 07:33
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How is Heimlich performed?
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Summer and the long vacation are here, and unfortunately this is a time when more accidents occur among children.
According to data from the Betram organization, suffocation is the third most common cause of child mortality from injuries, and most cases of suffocation are caused by food.
The data also shows that in the home arena almost half (49.6%) of the deaths of babies under one year of age are the result of suffocation.
Dr. Moshe Yosef, an expert in pediatrics at Moheded, explains how we can be careful and avoid suffocation in babies and children, and what we should do if such a case occurs.
"Choking on a foreign body is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children, especially under the age of 4. Babies and toddlers are more prone to suffocation after inhaling a foreign body because their airways are narrow compared to adults, their chewing mechanism is not developed enough, and yes, their cough reflex is not powerful enough to expel food or an object that is accidentally inhaled," explains Dr. Yosef, "when a small object or food is inhaled into the trachea, it blocks the entry of air and may quickly cause a condition of suffocation."
According to him, "most cases of suffocation are caused by food, such as fresh vegetables and fruits, crackers, Sausages, hard candies and chewing gum, but there is also a danger from other foreign bodies such as a rubber balloon, small toys, magnets and jewelry."
Round foods such as grapes, cherry tomatoes and sausages should be cut lengthwise.
Grapes in a glass (Photo: ShutterStock)
How can we protect ourselves from suffocation in babies and children?
The best way to deal with choking is prevention.
While eating, make sure that the baby/toddler sits at the table, under the supervision of an adult, and does not engage in any other activity that may distract him.
Round foods such as grapes, cherry tomatoes and sausages should be cut lengthwise.
Fresh vegetables and fruits should be cut into pieces of a size suitable for the child's ability.
Giving crackers to children under the age of 5 should be avoided at all, unless they are ground.
Maintain a safe play environment and be sure to keep especially small games away from babies and toddlers.
For more information on ways to prevent suffocation, you can go to the "Before" website.
If a case of suffocation does occur, it is important to know how to deal with it:
1. Do not try to remove the foreign body by inserting your finger into the mouth, unless the foreign body protrudes.
2. In babies under one year of age, turn the baby when he is lying on your forearm with his head down and give 5 pats between the shoulder blades.
If the foreign body did not come out, turn the baby on his back and press 5 times with two fingers in the center of the chest.
If the foreign body still has not come out, you must immediately dial 101 and call an MDA team.
Continue the rounds of pats on the back and compressions on the chest until the medical team or until the foreign body comes out.
3. In children over one year old, instead of compressions on the chest, make a fist with one hand , hug her with the other hand and press in and up above the navel (Heimlich pressures) until the foreign body comes out or until the EMS team arrives.
4. If the foreign body is not removed and the child is not breathing and does not respond, CPR must be started.
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First aid
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Resuscitation
suffocation
Children