Advice on how to keep children safe this Easter

ST JOHN’S Ambulance has issued a warning over the dangers of choking as Easter treats make their way home.

The charity say small treats could possibly become stuck in a child’s throat and could potentially put children at risk.

It said if a child can cough, cry or speak, encourage them to continue coughing to remove any obstruction and remove it from their mouth – only if it is visible.

If they cannot breathe, cry or cough effectively, act immediately. They may be unable to breathe, cry or cough and be showing signs of distress.

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St John’s Ambulance has issued the following advice if a child is unable to cough it out:

• Help them to lean forwards, supporting their upper body with one hand. With the heel of your other hand, give up to five sharp back blows between their shoulder blades
• After each back blow, check their mouth and only remove an object if you can clearly see it
• Do not put your fingers blindly into the mouth, as this could push the object further down the throat

If back blows fail to clear the obstruction the charity says to give up to five abdominal thrusts:

• Stand behind them and put your arms around the child’s waist
• Place one hand in a clenched fist between their belly button and the bottom of their chest
• With your other hand, grasp your fist and pull sharply inwards and upwards up to five times
• Check the mouth after every thrust
• If the object comes out, stop abdominal thrusts and seek medical advice
• Call 999 if the obstruction does not clear quickly, or at any point you are concerned
• Repeat up to five back blows and up to five abdominal thrusts until help arrives or the object is removed, checking the mouth between each action.
• If the child becomes unresponsive at any point, prepare to start CPR

  All children who have received abdominal thrusts should be seen in hospital, even if the obstruction has cleared, due to the risk of internal injury

• If your child has stopped breathing
• If your child is unresponsive and not breathing, shout for help or get a second person to call 999 immediately while you start CPR. Put your phone on speaker.

St John’s Ambulance said: “It’s worth brushing up on your first aid knowledge so you’re prepared if something goes wrong or you’re faced with an emergency.

“Simple first aid skills, such as recognising a cardiac arrest, starting chest compressions, relieving choking and knowing how to stop a bleed, can make all the difference.

“You should always call 999 in a serious medical emergency.”

St John Ambulance runs Paediatric First Aid courses, which anyone can join here.

The charity also has lots of free online resources, including its YouTube channel, where anyone can learn how to save a life.