Kind of did heinlich on DD - should I get her tummy checked out?

[MrsGravy]

DD choked on some orange this evening, I patted her back a few times and it wasn't coming out so I sort of did a gentle heinlich on her twice. She ended up swallowing the orange down. She's only 6 btw. She said she felt a bit sick after and her tummy hurt. We were on our way to Rainbows and she was fine when she came out and running around like crazy with a friend. She's also eaten. She's still saying her tummy hurts but she is the kind of child who complains loud and long about a paper cut. And she scared herself half to death. She hasn't actually been sick, has no fever, her tummy feels soft and it doesn't hurt when I apply some gentle pressure. Should I get her checked out? My gut instinct says she's fine and just a bit upset about it all. I'm thinking I could just check on her regularly tonight?

Trainers on first aid courses I've been on have always said that if you have used this movement the patient should always be taken to hospital. I would take her to A&E to be checked out to be on the safe side.

Im a first aid trainer and like Al1son said we always say that if you do this even on an adult they should get checked over.

I'm a first aider and you must always get checked out after the heimlich. You can break a rib, puncture a lung. Get o hospital straight away.

poor love choking is scary- agree with all others hospital to be checked out.

I am going on a refresher first aid course soon (am first aid babies and children trained but it was 10years ago now!) as my DD choked v.badly recently and I couldn't remember all the steps- but laying them across you face down and doing hard firm back slaps and checking food is out should be first steps. If child is upright and back is patted that isn't going to be as effective.
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Hi all, thanks for your advice. I took her to A&E and got her checked out - she was absolutely fine! She really enjoyed the excitement of a trip to A&E too, the little monkey.

Thandeka, am going to look into a First Aid course I think. I know what to do when babies choke but wasn't sure what to do with a 6 year old.

Thanks again!

is very similar- see vid. Thats the trouble isn't it with the different sizes- babies, toddlers versus children versus adults- extra stuff to remember in a panicky situation!

When DD was choking and I was doing the backslaps I remember thinking something muddled along the lines of "whats the next step if this doesnt work- she is too little for heimlich so I have to hang her upside down and beat her or something" - very glad it didn't come to that as I erm don't think its right!
So glad your DD is okay.