A medic has issued a stark warning to parents about the choking risks in young children by sharing a photo she admits is “hard to look at”.
The photo, posted by first aid organization Tiny Hearts Education, shows a peanut half lodged in a three-year-old’s throat.
Food is stuck in a baby’s windpipe — the tube that connects the voice box to the bronchi and sends air into the lungs, which means they’re unable to breathe.
Tiny Hearts founder and paramedic Nikki Jurcutz said she shared the image as a ‘warning’ about little ones eating certain foods.
I know this is not an easy picture to look at. But it is an important reminder of the reality of choking in young children.
A shocking photo posted online has issued a stark warning to parents about the choking hazards in young children
It shows a peanut lodged in the trachea of a child, resulting in his tragic death.
She added, “Little ones don’t have a full set of teeth and a mature chew yet, which is why I’ve made it a rule for my family, no whole nuts for a child under five.”
The Victoria-based first aid guru previously revealed the most dangerous foods for babies and children, and how to reduce choking risks by modifying them.
She explained that round foods like grapes are the most dangerous because they are exactly the size of a baby’s esophagus and can block the entire airway.
Nikki uploaded a video showing how the small, round foods are similar in shape and size to a baby’s esophagus.
Nikki has issued a warning to parents across Australia about common household choking hazards (Right)
Not all foods are created equal. Some foods pose a higher choking risk than others. Round foods are extremely choking hazard foods and here’s why.
The paramedic said that round foods can fit perfectly into a child’s esophagus and completely block the airway.
The solution is to modify the shape of the food, and it can be modified by cutting it into quarters or crushing it flat.
“Prevention is key,” Nikki said, explaining that even if the modified fruit gets stuck in a child’s airway, there is still room for oxygen to reach the lungs.
“If your child becomes choking and their airway is completely obstructed, you must perform first aid for choking immediately.”
Australian parenting organisation, Tiny Hearts Education, has shared a simple trick for parents to test if a food is safe for their child to reduce the risk of choking.
A video showed foods such as avocados and soft cheese being easily crushed, while harder cheeses, apples and cucumbers were firmer and therefore more of a choking hazard.
Nikki has previously revealed which seemingly innocuous household objects pose a lethal danger to babies and children, including one item that almost every child is obsessed with.
Nikki has issued a warning to parents across Australia and explained how to keep your children safe.
Items include bathroom plugs, unlocked furniture and phone chargers, as well as dishwashing tablets — which young children are often mesmerized by.
“Dishwashing tablets look like candy to young children and can cause poisoning,” Nikki explained.
Instead of storing them in your cupboard under the sink — a place they’ll often find toddlers crawling and walking — she recommends instead keeping them up.
The mom-of-two also recommends that the simple “crush test” is a quick way for parents to test if a food is safe for their child.
“Parents can pinch food between their index finger and thumb to mimic the pressure of toothless gum,” Nikki wrote on Facebook last year.
If the food crunches easily, it is probably safe for young children but if it remains firm, it should be modified by mashing it, cutting it into very small pieces, substituting it or avoiding it to reduce the risk of choking.
The post was accompanied by a video showing foods such as hard-boiled eggs, avocados and soft cheese being easily “crushed” while harder cheeses, apples and cucumbers were firmer and therefore presented a greater choking hazard.
“Saying that, anyone can choke on anything, so knowing what to do is very important,” Nikki added.
The paramedic reminded the parents to remember the “five to stay alive” technique to use if the child begins to choke.
“Five blows to the back, followed by five thrusts to the chest over and over until the obstruction is removed, an ambulance arrives and takes over, or he is unconscious and needs CPR,” she said.
