DD Choked - She's Okay

[Feralpeg]

I got a scary call this evening. DD, who is away at college, was having dinner at the dining hall with friends. She choked on a piece of potato. She was not able to talk or cough. Her friends were alarmed, but didn't do anything but pat her on the back. She finally was able to cough and it came up.

She told me it really scared her and her friends. She really thought she was going to suffocate. Her throat is sore and she says it still feels a little like something is there. I'm sure it is bruised. She said she is not having any trouble breathing or swallowing. I told her if she started having any problems or if it hurts any more tomorrow to go to the ER.

What really scares me about the whole thing is that none of her college friends knew what to do. They were just watching her. She said she got up and had started toward other people when the food dislodged.

DD does know how to do the Heimlich and she knows CPR. I told her to explain the Heimlich to her friends. Everyone needs to learn this procedure.

I know it is silly after the fact, because she is fine now, but I've been a wreck since she called me just thinking what could have happened.

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

That is very scary. I'm surprised none of her friends knew what to do. I really think that CPR and things like that should be taught in school.
My DD & I took a course together when she started babysitting.

 

[aladdinsgirl]

I am so glad your daughter is okay. How scary for her and for you. I'm surprised none of her friends knew any life saving procedures, we were taught that in health class in high school (I graduated in '96). I hope you both continue to feel better.

 

[disneyfanatic3166]

SO glad your DD is okay. Tell her to educate her friends on CPR!

 

[honeymom]

I got a scary call this evening. DD, who is away at college, was having dinner at the dining hall with friends. She choked on a piece of potato. She was not able to talk or cough. Her friends were alarmed, but didn't do anything but pat her on the back. She finally was able to cough and it came up.

She told me it really scared her and her friends. She really thought she was going to suffocate. Her throat is sore and she says it still feels a little like something is there. I'm sure it is bruised. She said she is not having any trouble breathing or swallowing. I told her if she started having any problems or if it hurts any more tomorrow to go to the ER.

What really scares me about the whole thing is that none of her college friends knew what to do. They were just watching her. She said she got up and had started toward other people when the food dislodged.


DD does know how to do the Heimlich and she knows CPR. I told her to explain the Heimlich to her friends. Everyone needs to learn this procedure.

I know it is silly after the fact, because she is fine now, but I've been a wreck since she called me just thinking what could have happened.

I don't know where I've seen it, but there is a way to self-Heimlich.

I had a friend through a friend in high school who choked to death (and her father was a physician) at a restaurant. I am so glad that your dd is alright.

 

[noseybuddy]

Wow, glad she is ok. Can't believe not one person knew how to help. That's sad.

 

[MINNIE OF TWO MICE]

From one mother to another. That is very scary. I also think it should be a required class in school. I learned as a pre teen at church camp. At least one person per a cabin had to know it. I am glad she is ok and I pray your nerves will calm.

 

[momrek06]

OMG, Peg ...your KENDALL !!! I am so glad she is OKAY. I hope she was able to calm herself down after that horrible ordeal. Sometimes when I feel I have something stuck in my throat I have a slice of bread and that seems to wash it down! So maybe if she tried that. And absolutely follow with either Health Services tomorrow on Campus or the the nearest ER.





You know to anyone reading this thread...when my DS' were in the Boy Scouts I called our Town's EMT Headquarters and the EMT's provide FREE OF CHARGE courses such as FIRST AID. If it is a course that requires a book, you are responsible for paying for the book. So I continued for years and years to have the Boy Scouts (in our Town) learn anything and everything FIRST AID related. At the end of the course they all received cards for their wallets that showed they had taken and passed the course. All F.A. courses show students the Heimlich method. Call your local Town's EMT Headquarters for info.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

Peg, I'm so glad she is ok. That is really scary, I know this might be going out on a limb for your DD but maybe she could mention this at school to the student club, etc and maybe they could pass out a flyer or post something with the steps to help someone in this kind of situation. I sure hope she's feeling better.

 

[PirateKitty]

I'm so glad to hear your daughter is ok. That happened to my sister a few years ago. Luckily my brother was there and was able to help her.

 

[Feralpeg]

Thank you all. I'm sure Kendall will be fine. Although this one may haunt both of us for awhile. She said they were having fun and she thinks she laughed at the wrong time and just sort of sucked it down. Thank goodness it was something as soft as a piece of potato.

Kendall has been taught that as a last resort, to force the air from the diaphram by falling against something like the back of a chair. She told me she had one in sight when she got up and started to move from her group. I'm pretty impressed that she stayed that calm.

Now, she is embarrassed because she cried afterward in front of her friends. I didn't tell her how much her call scared me. It would just upset her again.

 

[Jeanny]

it sure is scary, I choked on a piece of ziti one time... not fun! Yes, you kind of breathe in at the wrong time. I couldn't breathe and couldn't do anything, luckily my friends saw what happened and banged my back, which is one thing you're NOT supposed to do, but it worked. I couldn't get up and lean over my chair, I couldn't breathe!!!!!!

I'm glad Kendall is fine now.

 

[Sinderelli]

Glad your daughter is Ok...it's so scary during and esp. afterwards when something like this happens. It makes you realize how bad it could have been, doesn't it?

My DS, who really should be wrapped in a bubble for all hours of the day, has had the Heimlich administered to him twice!!! Once, I had to b/c he choked on a banana. My DH had to not that long ago b/c DS put a piece of a Magnetx toy in his mouth and choked on it. My mom wanted to get him that for Christmas and I told her NO WAY!!!

Maybe your daughter's friends could take a class together and get a reduced rate through the Red Cross. It's worth it to have the training and hopefully they will never have to use it.

 

[Little Miss Liberty]

I'm glad shes OK. At very least I would hope they would call for assistance.

 

[Daxx]

First off, I'm glad to hear that your DD is ok.

Second, I am not saying this to scare you or upset you ... but it comes from having just taken a CPR course which inc. a portion was on choking and the heimlich maneuver. The instructor told us that anytime someone chokes, they should automatically go to the hospital even if they think they're ok b/c there could be injury or swelling in the throat which could cause problems or they could've injured a rib (most common injury w/heimlich). Even though your DD didn't need the heimlich maneuver (and her ribs are prob. ok), the instructor said that they've seen cases where people who were choking had a piece of what they were choking on go into their lungs or had problems w/their throats. Your DD really might think about getting to the ER to be sure her throat is ok and there's no other damage to the throat/esophagus/lungs, etc.

 

[LadyyRedd]

I almost choked to death on a piece of sushi a few months ago. I was alone and it's the most scary thing I've ever been through because I truly thought I was going to die. I couldn't breathe, swallow, or do anything. I kept trying and trying and trying to swallow and finally it moved enough for me to gasp air and grab water and get it down.

I'm SO glad your DD is ok and that she had people around to help her during and after.

Kimya

 

[Little Miss Liberty]

I learned that if you are ever choking alone. (and I hope no one ever has to use this) Pick up the phone dial 911 and tap the receiver 3 times. It's the universal sign of choking. Also open your front door so they can get in. I know its a lot to think about when your panicking.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I'm so glad your daughter came through it okay, and she might want to get checked out, just to be on the safe side.

I have my doubts that all the other students didn't know how to do the Heimlich. I wonder if they were all just paralyzed with indecision, not thinking it was as serious as it was. The Heimlich maneuver is taught in just about every health class in every HS in America now. Sometimes, you just end up in a room full of people who, for some reason, don't want to put themselves out there and make a decision to DO something, thinking someone else will do it. I've been in this sort of a situation before, and it astounded me at the time that NOBODY WANTED TO MAKE A MOVE to help a person in obvious distress.

 

[rascalmom]

I'm so sorry this happened Peg - your poor baby! Glad she is feeling okay now. I do think a follow-up with the campus clinic or E.R. might be in order if she still has soreness tomorrow.

When I was college (yes, this was back in the dark ages) we had a group of EMT's come give a CPR class at the dormitory. I was president of the dorm floor and I think it was directed at us, but any resident was welcome to attend. They covered the Heimlich and basic emergency first aid also.

Maybe Kendall can organize this or at least suggest it to her RA. Do they still have RA's?

It is worth it for even those who may have had training through school, scouts or babysitting training to have a refresher.

 

[DisnyMama]

I'm so glad your daughter is alright. It's ok to cry after choking because it's a very scarry thing not being able to breath. I'm with the others in that if she is still sore tomorrow for her to go to the campus health or ER just to make sure she is ok.