Choking - Long Beach,CA

When my first born was 2 she choked on a summer sausage. Upon immediate impulsive response, I did the baby hymlec (sp?) on her and she threw up some of it and breathed in and started choking again. I did the same and she threw it all up and that was that. It was so scary!
My sister is a "swooper". I told her not to do it and I used to be her nanny. One day during lunch my niece started choking and without a blink, I did the same thing that I did with my DD. Baby hymlec. It came right out and my sister said, "Whoa! You were so calm! I would have stuck my finger down her throat!" Take a cpr/first aid class. It's only about $40 to get certified for 2 years. I didn't take the class until my #2, but I remember the baby hymlec from when I had #1 at the hospital and they made me watch a safety video. I'm so glad that they had it!! That "mandatory" video possibly saved 2 kids.

I took c.p.r., not that long ago and was taught the sweep technique, but now i hear its not good, i hear that it can push the stuff back, causing more damage. actually i read about revisions to rescue breathing and c.p.r. all the time. I read recently that blowing air into the mouth was ineffective. Im flabergasted by it all. it changes every year!, The information should be more readily available....like free classes. Well im glad your baby is ok, and im so sorry you had to go through it.

and by the way, one of the comments below was so undeserved!..sometimes i want to quit reading responses...........give advice with tact people, not personal attacks!*edited*(it looks like that comment has been removed)

whole grapes, hot dogs , quarters, baby powder and marbles are huge culprits in choking

When mine were that little i wld pick him up turn him upside down and give a couple of stern pats to the back. Your really not suppose to put your finger in their throat although that is the natural reaction, it can push it futher down and lodge to where it wont come up and you can also scratch the back of their throat. But i must say hotdogs are one of the top choking foods along with popcorn and chips. My father choked a few months ago granted he is 56 and is about twice the size of me and i was able to get him stood up and gave him the (excuse the spelling) hymleck...so somehow during an emergency we always under estimate ourselves. When i helped dad i hymlecked him so hard i picked him up off the ground and he weighs 150 lbs more than me in fact i was shocked i even got my arms around him. Never doubt yourself moms will find away to fix it of die trying. The very first time your child chokes is the scariest. My son was a choker, never failed he choked on everything, but if you ever have to do it again you will be calmer. Just always stay calm if you loose it u wont be mucj help to either of you! Good job Mom!!!!

Take a CPR/First Aid class. They are offered by the Red Cross or at your local hospital. Get in there and take that class this week!
You need to learn the Heimlich Maneuver and CPR.
The others are right - most often, if you flip them upside down and hit them on the back, the object will come out. Sometimes, just the motion of flipping them, releases the object.
LBC

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About 6 months ago, my 3 year old son choked on a chicken nugget. We were all sitting at the table eating and he started gagging and not breathing. I jumped up and tried to get him to cough it up, but it was too far back. My dad did the Heimlich while I called 911. By the time I told the 911 operator what was happening, the chicken popped out of his mouth from my dad doing the Heimlich. They still sent a police officer by the house to make sure all was ok. I still get teary thinking about it - it is so unsettling. I took a CPR class about 2 weeks later, and I'm so glad I know what to do now. The course covers what to do with adults and children. It's offered through your local Red Cross or through your local Girl Scout office. I would highly recommend taking this and getting refresher courses each year to keep your certification. It gives me piece of mind with my kids. Never hesitate to call 911! They can talk you through what to do while EMS is on the way. That's why we have the service. So sorry you had to go through that with your daughter. Ignore the rude and callous comment you have from one poster - there is no need to be a bully on here.

Please google appropriate foods for 2 year olds. Hot dogs are NOT on that list.

At that age ALL food should be cut into 1/4"-1/2" or smaller pieces.

Balloons are just as bad, kids bite them or have them close to their mouthes and they pop, a very small piece can block an airway and stretch even with a paramedic using equipment to grab the piece to get it out. All of my CPR and First aid classes as a child care center owner were with the fire department staff and doc's in my town and I have heard the horror stories.

It is our responsibility to take their food and make it as safe as possible. Also their eating situations. I never let the kids up away from table with food in their hand or mouth. Not in child care or at home. Never, ever. They could choke in their room and not be able to get to you.

If you serve hot dogs, cut theirs julienne style, long skinny, skinny strips. Anything else needs to be cut into itty bitty piecesl

my daughter choked on grapes when she was like 8 months old. i swept my finger in as reaction (you arent supposed to do that because you can push it farther down). i got the grape out but was ready to do the himlech for a baby on her.
was it a plain hot dog or one with a bun? if it was just a plain hot dog maybe cut it in smaller pieces (in 1/2 or 1/4 from the piece cut). if it was with a bun remind her to take smaller bites and to chew it better. i dont let my daughter play at the table or anything like that so she doesnt choke.

youre never supposed to put your finger in to try to swoop it out. my pediatrician told me to first lay the baby down on stomach or side. try to let them cough it out first because coughing is the best chance. Hopefully they will throw up and it will come out. If that doesn't work, turn them upside downand take your palm and hit the baby's back until it comes out. Don't beat the child, but you do need to be firm about it. I had to do it to my daughter once, too. She was choking on spit, I think. Standing upright is the worst position to be in when choking.