Distressing video reveals the deadly mistake most parents make when their child is choking

WATCHING a child choke must be every parents worst nightmare.

A first instinct might be to dive headfirst into your little one’s mouth to retrieve whatever is blocking their throat.

But first aiders from a parenting education group shared a video to show why you shouldn’t stick your fingers into a choking child’s mouth.

In the clip, the experts from Tiny Hearts Education can be seen trying to scoop a piece of cucumber from a throat of an anatomy mannequin.

“By blindly sticking your finger in, you could push back further,” they explained.

Previously, former paramedic and mum Nikki Jurcutz who runs the page, said the first thing parents should do is to call 999.

It’s best to get this step out of the way as soon as possible, she explained.

“Call 999, putting the phone on speakerphone so your hands are free,” the NHS says on it’s website.

She also warned parents not to hang their child upside down when they’re choking.

According to the Red Cross the action of tipping them upside down “may also move the object further down their throat”.

What to do if your child chokes

The NHS says if you can see an object lodged in your child’s mouth, take care to remove it because blindly poking at it could make things worse.

If the child is coughing, encourage them to continue as they may be able to bring the object up – don’t leave them.

If the coughing isn’t effective (it is silent or they cannot breathe properly), shout for help immediately.

If the child is still conscious, use back blows. 

First aiders at St John Ambulance give the following advice based on the child’s age.

Baby

1. 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