What an amazing story we had posted on the Purple Dog Ltd Facebook page……..

It’s no good coming on a First Aid course and not knowing what to do if something did happen. You need to be confident in your knowledge and skills.

When this horrid situation arose, thanks to Helen’s teaching! The situation was dealt with in the correct way and all is good. At Purple Dog Ltd we make the learning of First Aid, including Family First Aid and Paediatric First Aid stick with the way that we teach the sessions. We talk from real life experiences as we have all had this happen to our children. We understand your possible concerns and worries.

Now babies are born with a natural gagging reflex as well as a thicker epiglottis (the flappy bit) to try and stop objects or fluids going ‘down the wrong hole’. However, it is a real possibility and having to administer first aid skills to your child or baby. This is not something anyone ever wants to do.  As part of the Paediatric First Aid courses (the 12 hour ones that meet OFSTED and EYFS requirements) there is a section in there all about choking. Recognising the difference between choking and gagging is important. So when it comes to dealing with the situation, it will work effectively. This part of the course is so important, indeed it forms part of the practical assessment of the course. It is something we make sure everyone can deal with before they leave.

Purple Dog Ltd courses are not a ‘turn up and you pass’. Here in our Facebook comments you can see an example of why we have to sure that you know what you are doing before we pass you and you leave one of our courses.

So how would you deal with a baby who is choking?

1. Well by not panicking for a start!
2. Then you have to let gravity help you by facing the baby down onto the floor- keep hold of the jaw! (If you do back blows and you are not holding the jaw. The infant could end up with their brain being shaken. So making sure your baby is secure and facing down.)
3. Then do ‘back blows’ between the shoulder blades- 5 of them. Checking every time that the object hasn’t come out.
4. Next are the chest thrusts, for this you need to turn the baby so the chest area is showing.
5. Then you  perform 5 chests thrusts checking every time the object hasn’t come out.
6. If this hasn’t got rid of the blockage, back to the back blows.
7. When do you call for an ambulance? Well I would recommend after the initial 5 back blows as this technique is SO effective.

To explain this without demonstration is hard, so watch for another post on dealing with a baby who is choking. Incidentally, we class a baby in first aid terms as someone birth up to their first birthday.

Hope this helps!

If you want to know more about this or any of the other of the courses we run, please call Iain on 01484 546780 to get booked on.