A Safe and Happy Easter

It's Easter time again, and a lovely opportunity to spend some well-deserved family time. However you choose to spend Easter, there is one thing that will be a common theme in most family households, and that, is chocolate – particularly in egg form!  

What should I look out for at Easter?

Easter eggs are all part of the fun of Easter but when you’ve got little ones, it is really important to make sure that they don’t become a choking hazard. Small solid eggs can be very hazardous for babies and young children because they can become lodged in their windpipe and the hard coating means that they won’t melt and loosen on their own. Did you know that Cadbury Mini Eggs state on the packet that they are not safe for those under the age of 4?

Thankfully, there is such a large variety of eggs on offer that you can easily avoid these more hazardous choices and opt for the slightly larger, hollow eggs in colourful foil. Or you might choose some fun bunny-shaped chocolates or similar for your egg hunt instead.

If you get gifted Mini Eggs or similar, you can use them crushed up in a tiffin or tray bake or sprinkled on top of cakes. Or – do what we do here – eat them yourself!

What do I do if my baby or child starts choking?

Stay as calm as you can – you need to act quickly.

Babies under 1 need a different technique to children:

·      5 back slaps between the shoulder blades. Ideally hold baby so that their head is lower than their bottom – gravity helps.

·      Up to 5 chest thrusts. A chest thrust is a sharp press with 2 fingers on the chest between the nipples. Check if anything comes out. If nothing has come out, call 999.

·      Cycles of 5 back slaps and 5 chest thrusts.

Children over 1:

·      Encourage child to cough.

·      5 back slaps between shoulder blades. Check if anything comes out and check mouth.

·      Up to 5 abdominal thrusts. Clenched fist between tummy and breastbone, with other hand over the top. In and upwards motion. Check if anything comes out. If nothing has come out, call 999.

·      Cycles of 5 back slaps and 5 abdominal thrusts.

You do need to apply quite a bit of force to dislodge the blockage when someone is choking. Don’t forget that if you have delivered chest thrusts or abdominal thrusts, you must take your child to hospital to make sure no injuries have occurred. This is standard procedure.

If you’d like to learn the techniques in real life, or if you need a refresher, book on to our Baby and Child 2 hour class, where you can practise choking first aid techniques on our manikins and choking vests, as well as covering other subjects such as burns, bleeds, febrile seizures, meningitis and more.

Maria Matthews is the owner of Mini First Aid Nottingham and Derby. Mini First Aid offers award winning First Aid training for parents/carers, classes for children, and First Aid Industry body accredited workplace training.

Are you a parent or carer who wnats to brush up on your First Aid skills? Why not attend one of our informal 2 hour baby and child first aid classes near you. Visit www.minifirstaid.co.uk to find out more