THE sun might be shining outside, but it’s still pretty chilly and that means warming up with a hot drink.
But if you’re out and about, one expert has warned that you should be wary of giving your children certain hot drinks to get cosy.
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Posting to TikTok, first aider Nikki Jurcutz said you should avoid ordering your child a hot chocolate with marshmallows.
The CEO of parenting organisation Tiny Hearts Education, explained while the marshmallows might be tasty, they could be deadly to your little one.
She said: “Marsmallows in baby chino are a no no.
“They melt and become sticky and easily can get stuck in a tiny airway and will be hard to get out.
“Hold the marshmallow until they are three-years-old”.
In the comments section of the video she added that mini marshmallows would be better, but said they could still ‘easily block an airway’ and that you should ‘use them with caution’.
A block in the airway could be deadly, as this may prevent your little one from getting enough oxygen.
In severe cases, a lack of oxygen can cause brain damage and even a heart attack.
Kids have a higher risk of obstruction to their airways than adults because they have smaller airways.
This is why small objects and toys come with a choking hazard warning.
Children are also at risk as they may not chew their food well enough before swallowing it.
KNOW THE SIGNS
There are some things you can look out for if you think you little one is suffering from an obstructed airway.
If your child is agitated then this could be a sign as well as confusion, change in breathing pattern, gasping for air, panic and high pitched breathing noises.
A child who is choking could be clutching at their chest or neck and won’t be able to speak, breathe or cough.
If their face has turned pale or blueish then this could be a sign and if they are violently coughing – then this is a sign they are trying to remove whatever has become stuck – such as a marshmallow.
Experts at the Red Cross say that giving your child something to swallow could make the situation worse.
They state: “It’s not a good idea as it will not dislodge the blockage and may make the situation worse by causing a further blockage.”
LIFE SAVERS
Knowing what actions to take if a child is choking could be life saving.
Experts at the Red Cross said you need to remember the five blows rule.
They explained: “Hit them firmly on their back between the shoulder blades.
“Backblows create a strong vibration and pressure in the airway, which is often enough to dislodge the blockage. Dislodging the blockage will allow them to breathe again.”
If the child is young then you need to put them over your lap, then give up to five sharp back blows with the heel of one hand in the middle of the back between the shoulder blades.
If the five back blows don’t work then you need to give five abdominal thrusts.
To successfully do this you need to hold the child around the waist and pull inwards and upwards above their belly button.
This squeezes the air out of the lungs and will hopefully dislodge the blockage.
The NHS says: “This will create an artificial cough, increasing pressure in the chest and helping to dislodge the object”.
In choking incidences, time is of the essence and if you have not been able to dislodge the foreign body then you should call 999.
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