One mum warns that this common snack could be deadly
- Replies 18
Any parent knows it’s important to be vigilant when it comes to the supervision of our children – especially if they're still very young. This includes ensuring that what they eat is healthy and safe. Fruit is always a good choice when it comes to snacks, as it is not only nutritious but it’s also (usually) affordable.
Apples are a particular favourite among toddlers – they’re easy to eat and have a sweet taste that kids love. However, one mother is urging other parents to take extra care after a terrifying incident involving her two-year-old son Declan and this common snack.
Ashlie Johnson from Toowoomba, Queensland was cutting up some apple slices for her son Declan when the nightmare scenario unfolded. Declan, who is two years old, was happily watching television and already snacking on bite-sized fruit slices when he started making strange noises.
Declan started to turn bright red and this sent the mum into a frenzy. His mum, Ashlie, recalled: ‘He was walking towards me with his arms up, wanting to be picked up but he was red in the face and trying to cough.’
Neither Ashlie nor her partner Tyson had a first-aid certificate. They did their best to help their son by trying to dislodge the stuck piece of fruit with hard thumps on his back.
But when that failed to clear his airway, they called an ambulance and rushed over to the hospital quickly. After getting an X-ray, the mum found out that there was a small piece of apple stuck in his lung.
The doctors attempted to shift the apple but failed, so Declan was sedated and eventually flown to Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane. Once there, he had to undergo emergency surgery to remove the fruit from his lung.
Ashlie explained that before surgery, doctors thought the apple had moved in his lung, which caused the child’s oxygen levels to drop. ‘He was in distress and he was starting to go blue,’ she said.
An hour later, Declan’s parents were given the good news that the surgery had been successful. The family was also given the green light to go home the next day. ‘I was so happy to hear he was okay,’ Ashlie said.
Ashlie is now helping raise awareness about the importance of first aid training. She said people should at least have a basic understanding of it, particularly when dealing with a choking episode. She explains that since this incident, she realised she didn’t recognise her son was choking.
‘There needs to be more information regarding them,’ she shared.
Well, there you have it, members! What are your thoughts on Ashlie and Declan’s story? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section! Remember, when in an emergency like this, don’t hesitate to call for an ambulance immediately.
Apples are a particular favourite among toddlers – they’re easy to eat and have a sweet taste that kids love. However, one mother is urging other parents to take extra care after a terrifying incident involving her two-year-old son Declan and this common snack.
Ashlie Johnson from Toowoomba, Queensland was cutting up some apple slices for her son Declan when the nightmare scenario unfolded. Declan, who is two years old, was happily watching television and already snacking on bite-sized fruit slices when he started making strange noises.
Declan started to turn bright red and this sent the mum into a frenzy. His mum, Ashlie, recalled: ‘He was walking towards me with his arms up, wanting to be picked up but he was red in the face and trying to cough.’
Little Declan survived the ordeal relatively unharmed. Credit: Kenney News
Neither Ashlie nor her partner Tyson had a first-aid certificate. They did their best to help their son by trying to dislodge the stuck piece of fruit with hard thumps on his back.
But when that failed to clear his airway, they called an ambulance and rushed over to the hospital quickly. After getting an X-ray, the mum found out that there was a small piece of apple stuck in his lung.
The doctors attempted to shift the apple but failed, so Declan was sedated and eventually flown to Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane. Once there, he had to undergo emergency surgery to remove the fruit from his lung.
Ashlie explained that before surgery, doctors thought the apple had moved in his lung, which caused the child’s oxygen levels to drop. ‘He was in distress and he was starting to go blue,’ she said.
Be extra careful when serving food to children. Credit: Skylar Kang in Pexels
Ashlie is now helping raise awareness about the importance of first aid training. She said people should at least have a basic understanding of it, particularly when dealing with a choking episode. She explains that since this incident, she realised she didn’t recognise her son was choking.
‘There needs to be more information regarding them,’ she shared.
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