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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

I had a very frightening experience with my charge this evening :(

34 replies

thelittleElf · 09/01/2008 20:00

We were on our way home from an afterschool activity, and she (6) was sat in the back of my car eating a mint imperial.
Anyway, for some reason i looked back at her in my rear view mirror, and saw her slumped forward clutching her throat . She was chocking on that dam sweet!!

So i VERY quickly slammed on the brakes, put hazards on and literally threw myself into the back of the car to help her. She was starting to get floppy ,but thankfully after a few swift slaps (and yes i know your not meant to do this anymore, but i panicked BIG TIME), the sweet dislodged.

I can't remember the last time i've ever been that scared , and all she said afterwards was, "you said the 'S' word" whoops!!

Thank goodness i did look back

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

southeastastra · 09/01/2008 20:01

blimey how scary.

3littlefrogs · 09/01/2008 20:05

Well done. You have to do the best you can under the circumstances - you saved her life.

But - I guess there will be no more eating sweets in the car. Particularly round, smooth ones. I saw a toddler die in front of me from choking when I was about 12. i have never got over it.

BroccoliSpears · 09/01/2008 20:06

I always wonder about eating in the car. Snacks keep dd busy and happy, but I'm never quite at ease until she's finished.

Tiggerish · 09/01/2008 20:06

Well done you!! My dd choked on some apple at nursery one day and the carer had to hit her really hard to dislodge it. She then made a big thing about apologising to me for hitting my dd I was just soooo grateful

Original poster

thelittleElf · 09/01/2008 20:08

Yes, there now is a total ban on eating ANYTHING in my car.

I was still shaking when we got back home, and her mum held her very close

OP posts:

ComeOVeneer · 09/01/2008 20:09

Well done you. Pour yourself a big drink to calm your nerves (assuming you are now charge free). This happened to my friends ds at nursery on a grape, and I was the one picking him up so had to tell the mum what happen, the staff where likewise apologetic for having to hit him.

KatyMac · 09/01/2008 20:10

Major incident report - nightmare

Is this one of those things we have to tell OFSTED about? I had to tell them when DH had a car accident last year, I'm never sure what they need to know & what they don't need to know

Original poster

thelittleElf · 09/01/2008 20:12

I'm not covered by ofsted as i'm a nanny - so i'm only answerable to mumboss.

As for pouring myself a big drink...does a coffee qualify

OP posts:

ELF1981 · 09/01/2008 20:13

big well done to you
my FIL had to do this a while ago with DD as she nearly choked on a stick of cheese travelling from CM house to his. I have a fear of her eating now in the car!

KatyMac · 09/01/2008 20:16

Poor you - that is so much worse

I choked on a sweet in the theatre when I was about 4, my nana dragged me to the aisle grabbed me by the ankle & turned me upsidedown (nearly based my head in)-I survived & it doesn't matter how you did it your charge is OK.

It makes that 1st Aid seems so much more than a piece of paper doesn't it

Flllightattendant · 09/01/2008 20:19

Oh golly, my worst fear almost...how do you do it, though? I choked on one of those marble sized sweets when I was three, mum stuck her finger in and got it out, but you aren't meant to do that, are you?

Where and how hard do you hit?

moljam · 09/01/2008 20:25

well done thelittleElf!i cant imagine the panic!i had little boy choking on chalk before,you dont have time to think your instincts kick in.you saved her life-well done you!

Original poster

thelittleElf · 09/01/2008 20:26

I hit her towards the top of her back and it was as hard as my shaking hands would allow me . I just hope i haven't bruised her .

My first aid isn't due for renewal yet, but i'm seriously considering doing a refresher course because i panicked.

OP posts:

Hecate · 09/01/2008 20:26

I think you are supposed to bend them forward to see if it comes out, if it doesn't, slap them on the back, between the shoulder blades and if the object is still stuck there, do the Heimlich. And then call an ambulance if it's still stuck.

And don't you put a baby upside down over your knee and hit them between the shoulders?

speak2deb · 09/01/2008 20:28

I didn't realise you weren't supposed to slap blockages out. I do that all the time when my dd when gets stuff stuck in her throat.

What are you supposed to do?

sallystrawberry · 09/01/2008 20:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sallystrawberry · 09/01/2008 20:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hecate · 09/01/2008 20:40

You are supposed to slap between the shoulder blades, speak2deb.

I think I ran my post together so it wasn't clear!

bend them forward to see if it comes out,

if it doesn't, (come out, I mean) you slap them on the back, between the shoulder blades

and if the object is still stuck there, do the Heimlich.

And then call an ambulance if it's still stuck.

Flllightattendant · 09/01/2008 20:44

Thanks, need to do a course I think!

NAB3wishesfor2008 · 09/01/2008 20:57

I have often wondered if I have been a bit over protective about not letting my kids eat in the car but stories like this make me realise you can't be too careful.

WELL DONE for saving her. Hope you are ALL okay now.

BTW What did you mean about not meant to slap them any more>

Original poster

thelittleElf · 09/01/2008 21:03

I was told by a friend a while ago, that you weren't meant to hit on the back anymore, but can't remember what reason she gave now?

It worked for me though, thank god!!

OP posts:

madrose · 09/01/2008 21:17

My DD once choked on an apricot in a shop, Instinct just took over, I threw her over over my knee so her head was down and hit her back - it came out. My friend was amazed how calm I was - and I was whilst dealing with it, but once it was sorted I then started to cry and shake.

My biggest fear is choking, when I was 9 I saw a friend choke on a marble and the lack of oxygen caused so much brain damage.

I really try and get her to eat sitting down down now.

madrose · 09/01/2008 21:18

Sorry I meant to say - well done, you did brilliently.

speak2deb · 09/01/2008 21:20

Hi Hecate. I think we crossed our posts. Your post was very clear.

southernbelle77 · 10/01/2008 09:48

Goodness me how scary. That has made me think about giving anyone food in the car from now on.
DD was choking one night in bed (on some phlegm sp?) and I could not remember what to do! I ended up just putting her face down over my legs and slapping her on the back until it disloged.
Well done for doing what you did and saving her life.

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