How to stop choking as horrifying video shows moment heroic mum saved her son

A doctor has shared a warning to parents after her son stopped breathing during a family meal.

Many parents look forward to eating with their babies and young – whether it is feeding their baby via bottle or breast milk, starting them on soft solid foods, or enjoying some family time around the table in the evening. However, particularly for new parents, the sound of gagging or choking can be alarming.

Children aged four and under may not have the coordination to properly chew and swallow food, and their mouths and throats are still developing, which increases the risk of choking.

Mum-of-two Dr Adriana Warne, who has specialised in children and women's for over 10 years, has shared the horrifying moment this happened to her son at home. The parent, who regularly shares advice online, noticed that seconds after being fed, her son went from gagging to choking – and he stopped breathing.

She shared a video online, caught on a home security camera, showing the moment she rushed to pick him up, turned him on his back in her hands and patted him repeatedly. She saw chunks of food fall out of his mouth.

Adriana said: "He was eating something he's eaten before, but, the difference here was he was recovering from a respiratory illness which made chewing more difficult. This is a real-life scenario my family experienced, even as a medical provider and CPR instructor (and especially a mama), there is nothing scarier than when your child stops breathing."

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'Every second counts'

She added: "It fuels my fire to reach as many parents and caregivers of children as I can to teach these lifesaving skills. Choking is life or death, every second counts."

People rushed to support the mum, after she shared the video on her page, but a few were shocked by how hard her pats were on her son's back. One individual said: "Damn I ain’t never seen. Nobody hit no baby in the back that hard."

Another said: "Omg, am I only one that thought it was a bit much with the hitting? I understand you have to do it, but that hard? She could've hurt the baby." "That would scare me to death," commented another.

But the fast action mum took the correct course of action. "Good job mama, you did everything right," said one. One other commented: "Mom with NO hesitation, and delivered perfectly forced blows between the shoulder blades. Had that cleared in less than 10 seconds. Phenomenal."

One other noted: "Well done mum, so many times I see parents gently hitting the back but this is the way it has to be done, great awareness video." Another parent shared: "Had to do this to my 8 month old daughter it worked almost immediately I think I did three back blows and it cleared her airway. Terrifying experience."

What to do if your child is choking

Watch this video by the British Red Cross to learn what to do in the event of choking:

Adriana, who has a doctorate in nursing practice, shared what to do if this happens to you. She advises: "For babies, perform 5 back slaps, 5 chest compressions, continue this sequence until the object comes out or baby becomes unconscious.

"If baby becomes unconscious, begin CPR and call emergency services. For children, perform j-thrust movements (Heimlich manoeuvre) until the object comes out or the child." If the child becomes unconscious, ring 999.

The British Red Cross states: "You should change the force of the back blows depending on the size of the baby: be gentler with a smaller baby than with a larger baby. The force you use to deliver the back blows should also be relative to your own strength. The back blows need to be hard enough to cause a vibration in the airway and dislodge the blockage.

"Supporting the head will help to keep the baby's airway open, helping to dislodge the blockage from the airway." Abdominal thrusts can be used on children and adults only, but not babies."

The advice continues: "Do not put your fingers into their mouth if you cannot see an object. You risk pushing any blockage further down or damaging the back of the throat, which could swell and cause further harm."

As Adriana suggests, the advises to use back blows for children over one. It is suggested that you lay a small child face down on your lap as you would a baby. If this isn't possible, support your child in a forward-leaning position and give 5 back blows from behind.

For a children over one, you can use abdominal thrusts. The NHS states to sand or kneel behind your child, place your arms under the child's arms, and around their upper abdomen, then clench your fist and place it between the navel and ribs, grasp this hand with your other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards. Repeat this five times and check to see if the object has come out in between each thrusts. Avoid pressure to the ribcage.

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