Question
The 3-year-old baby ate too much and threw up all the apples he ate, and it got stuck in his throat! At that time, his mouth and face turned blue, he had no breath, and his body was soft. It felt like he was about to faint! I used my hands to pull out the stuff from his throat and he started breathing again! How could someone faint so quickly without any signs of struggling?
Answer
Based on your description, the baby choked on an apple, which was a critical situation. When the airway is blocked, breathing becomes difficult very quickly. In such cases, the abdominal thrust technique (Heimlich Maneuver) should be immediately employed to dislodge the foreign object. Here’s how to do it:
- Lay the baby face down on a table. Place one hand on the baby’s abdomen between the navel and sternum, pressing firmly against the abdomen.
- Repeat this thrusting motion to increase pressure in the abdominal and thoracic cavities, prompting the foreign object to be coughed out. In this emergency situation, it is crucial to take the baby to the nearest medical facility for examination and treatment immediately. Additionally, in the future, it should be noted to avoid distracting or amusing the baby while eating to prevent similar incidents from occurring again.