On Wednesday, the kids were sitting on the kitchen floor eating raw green beans. I was washing dishes. Andrew started to be silly and four year old Lauren starting giggling and then laughing harder.

Suddenly, she stopped laughing and got super quiet. Choking on the green bean. Trying to cough but it was useless.

I got down on her level and asked if she could talk. She hardly got out the words but what she did gasp shook me to the core. "Mama, please help me". Her eyes were so scared.

What do you do!? She was talking so she could breathe but barely. Ironically, I was signed up for a Child First Aid course - in three days. I had once seen a demo for a choking baby (tip them over vertically and wallop their back) so I was literally imagining this and about ready to pick up a 40 pound child and flip her.

Miraculously, at that moment she vomited everything up. Green beans and all her lunch. I've never been so happy to see vomit. We both sat there shaking for a couple of minutes and then normal life resumed.

Holy Scary. And really, my husband and I were already signed up for the course. How could I have been parenting daily without basic first aid certification? I'd expect it of a childcare provider but I don't have it!?

I can fix up a scraped knee. I've lugged kids to the ER for peas up noses and nickels down throats and we even have a classic nut allergy with one kid but, in terms of general emergencies we've been really lucky so far (knock on wood). What do you do if a child (or adult) is choking and they don't vomit? Or has a serious head bang? Or stops breathing? Honestly, I wasn't sure.

My husband & I took that planned Child CPR & First Aid workshop this past Saturday morning and can you say Relief!? I feel so much better knowing more and having the basic skills (and practise!) to help save a life. I can not even imagine the guilt and sorrow if something happened and I didn't have the knowledge to save my child.

Our 2 hour workshop was with Valerie (so love her!) from ERT-CPR who I would soooo recommend. She has done many workshops with momstown member clients (oddly, I hadn't yet attended a momstown session) and Valerie enstills confidence in all parents.

I understand why parents don't take a course, because we hadn't either. You figure you remember the CPR you learned in grade 5 at swimming lessons or you don't have time.

But when that bean stuck, my panicked guilt was huge. Imagine if it didn't dislodge? The last words I would have heard my child say could have been "Mama, please help me". (shiver)

At least now I'd know what to do.

Posted by Ann-Marie

I just wanted to thank you again for the training we received in January. Last weekend I was sitting with my son Travis while he was in his high chair eating a teething biscuit when all of a sudden his face went red, his eyes started to bug out and he was gasping for air (just the way you described). I took him out of his chair as quickly as I could, got down on my knees and flipped him over. Before I could start pounding on his back he threw up the piece of cookie that was choking him. He was really frightened, but pretty much unharmed by the event. I was very frightened, but so relieved I knew what to do when in mattered. So, thank you again
It was very surreal when it was happening. All I really remember thinking was, "get him out of the high chair" and then the actions just followed. My husband was there too and I asked him after if I did everything the way we were taught and he said yes. Phew!
And... it also reminded me of your story about your daughter choking on a Baby Mum Mum. Travis choked on a teething biscuit. It's important to remember that just because it's made for babies it doesn't mean that they can't still choke on it.
I've been telling this story to all of my mommy and daddy friends and encouraging them to take your course.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Regards,
Lisa Z