Three Yr Old Boy Dies choking on Hot Dog

[sha_lyn]

I really think emotions for the OP, her sister and the family of the child are very high right now. I can just imagine the conversation between TwingleMum and her sister. Her sister unloaded on her and she unloaded on us.

 

[ripleysmom]

This story is true. The teacher teaches 4th grade at Abbey Lane school in my school district which is Levittown school district. The wake was last week.

My heart really breaks for that mom.....

 

[Jillpie]

This is by far the strangest thread I have ever read. I felt horrible when I first read it, then was horrified to start reading posts that questioned the truth in it. I thought WHY? Why are so many people not believing this woman?
So to the OP...
WHAT PARK DID IT HAPPEN IN?

 

[sha_lyn]

Sorry if I am not allowed to mention other discussion boards here, but I did want to point out that the OP has left ithis message, verbatim, on other disney discussion boards. I am just curious as to the point of the multiple posting?

The OP also posted this on the restaurants board, but the mod's moved it to the comunity board. After it was moved, the OP repostedby starting this thread, but actually IMHO blasted WDW more than on the first. I hope the OP's point is only to vent, but after reading that she is posting it on multiple boards, I'm really wondering what the motive is.

 

[kilee]

My heart goes out to the family. We like to think we are "safe" especially while on vacation. But tragedy happens anywhere. I do really think it is odd that there was no media coverage. Afterall, they eat this sort of thing up, and love to put their own spin on it.
I do think that the OP blaming Disney is way off base. As parents, and a teacher (someone responsible for other children) we need to know what is safe and unsafe for our children. Hotdogs are right at the top of the list of foods not to give small children. Disney seems to have eyes and ears in every square inch of that place. I find it hard to believe that couldn't get an ambulance, or any sort of emergency personnel to the scene. I think that some facts of this story may have been changed, as is usually the case as they get re-told.

 

[TwingleMum]

I posted the church where the little boy was buried I believe it was Wed. Call. Then when you find out its true maybe you'll be able to pray for this poor family then. I can't believe the vicious posts. I didn't post to be called a liar. I posted when the news was fresh and in a misguided moment thought I could protect all your children & I wanted to warn people. I never said it was any one persons fault. I hit out at Disney first because you can't wrap your mind around how awful it is. Was it unfortunate to give a 3yr old a hot dog & have him choke on it and die, YES. Could you walk up to his mother & tell her its her fault. I couldn't she'll do that enough for the rest of her life. But I was told (yes spainish inquisition I wasn't there didn't eye witness it) that Disney couldn't get through the crowd. How long was it Clarence Darrow? again I don't know. So what its not in the papers that makes it untrue? There are 2 other posters who live in the same community and knew about it. They posted on the other board, I posted it in 2 different places because I was worried & upset and knew people go to these boards the most.I was upset when I first posted and I wanted to warn people to be extra cautious with their kids, and yes I still am worried about WDW response time. Am I going to go and grill the mother for all the gory details NO. Lawsuit?? Who the hell cares aout the money? There isn't enough money in the world to bring her little boy back. And if some of you were on the jury you'd probably execute her. Will I still go to WDW yes. But I'll be extra careful.

 

[kinlaw6450]

That's amazing that EMT's couldn't get there. Must have been so sudden.

DS had a full blown asthma attack one night after the fireworks DIsney CM's had EMT's in there in minutes. Imagine MK on Main Street during the mass exit...in July! Could you get any busier...They moved him instead of trying to get the EMTS around the crowds. Anyway point is I couldn't commend them enough. A cast member stayed with us until EMT's took him out. I will say we cart the electric nebulizer everywhere with us now!

 

[Eeyore2U]

TwingleMum,

I feel for the family. Someone I respect validated what you said. I think the posters on this thread, based on second hand information you posted acted on the knowledge they had. I don't give a rat's butt where you think the blame should be. Your opinion doesn't matter. The facts do. Mickey didn't feed the child the hot dog, but I bet my last dollar he did everything he could to save him.

 

[goofyernmost]

I don't know if the story is true or not but what difference does it make. I think that the motives were of genuine concern and hope to avoid having the situation happen again.

That is where it ends for me. I have known people that have died because they choked on food. The food was lodged deep in the throat and would/could not be expelled by an army of paramedics. The time frame with the total lack of oxygen is very, very short. Response time is irrelevent. They could have been standing next to the victim and not be able to save him. Not every situation has a corrective action.

If it happened in WDW or Denny's or in their own home, the key message is be aware of what you are feeding a toddler. Many people are totally unaware of it or misunderstand. My own dd used to feed her toddler large pieces of meat (ie. hot dogs, etc.) thinking that they choke on small pieces that easily go down into the throat without being chewed and not on big pieces. I corrected her and felt so lucky that nothing happened.

If it did happen (and it could have) how sad for everyone involved. Just use caution and common sense, but even that will not insure that nothing will ever happen.

So everyone, lighten up, the story really isn't about WDW bashing it is about a possible sad, sad ending to what should have been a wonderful experience.

 

[jenfur]

I really don't see where anyone is to blame. Not Disney, and not the mother. Accidents happen all the time all over the world. Instead of blaming disney for slow response, why not blame the crowd who would not move? Even an ambulance at home or any other place usually takes 3-4 minutes at best. That could already be too long for a choking victim.

AND don't blame the mother. Kids can choke on any number of things, even cut up hotdogs. Even a carefully monitored child can choke unless you want to chew their food for them. Bad things happen, accidents happen.

 

[mike07801]

I am very sorry that this tragedy happened. I too will be praying for the family.

I would like to add one thing though. I volunteer for an ambulance squad in NJ. I cannot tell you how many times I am responding to an emergency call in my ambulance with lights and sirens blaring and other drivers will not give the right of way. Please pull to the right if an ambulance has it's lights and sirens going. The person in the back of my ambulance is someone's mom, sister, brother or dad. I want to get them to the doctors as quickly as possible to get them the help that they need.

 

[Jillpie]

I think everyone should back off from this poor person who posted this. I do not think she was trying to place blame, merely trying to pass on a helpful warning.

Can you please tell us though, what park did this happen in?

 

[Talking Hands]

TwingleMum you heard of this third hand. The only ones who know the response time is the parents and no response time short of instantaneous resulting in the child not dying would be fast enough for them. In the state they are probably in of course they are blaming Disney and claiming slow response time. But that doesn't make it true. I have experienced Disney's response time to emergencies several time and I can tell you it has been swift and efficient. The flipping of my power chair was only one instance. Twice it has been insulin reactions where I dropped suddenly and required immediate intervention. TG I wear a tag.
But I can assure you that response time to emergencies is very quick.
Btw, my daughter also has experienced this on the other side of the coin. As a castmember she was knocked unconscious in a fall. She was quickly taken to the ER and tended to. This was in Japan but I know it is just as fast here from my personal experiences.

 

[TwingleMum]

I'm not sure of the park. Someone posted about response times and I think its true when you need help minutes seem like hours.

 

[SueM in MN]

TwingleMum, please don't take people's skepticism personally. I believe that you are reporting something as you were told.
I think if your subject was "Child dies after choking on hot dog!!!!", you would not have had so many questions. I have vivid memories of my mom holding my brother upside down by the feet (before the days of Heimlick) to dislodge something he was choking on. Everyone knows someone who almost choked and most people know that hot dogs are dangerous to kids, so we know it can happen and it can happen fast. It could also happen anywhere and even if a doctor was sitting right next to you with a medical bag, it might not have a happy ending.
I didn't used to be so skeptical, but I have a friend who gets a lot of sad story emails (and she emails them all to me). I passed some of them on, but then another friend emailed me back that she had seen the same story with a different location. The one I emailed on was an urban legend. When someone gives a story that has things in common to things that I have read that are urban legends, I start to wonder about it. A lot of the urban legends that include a child who dies, also include a pregnant mother who faints at the funeral and needs to be taken to the hospital. So, if anyone is to blame for people looking at your information with skepticism, it is the people who make up and spread urban legends.

And, I agree that there might not be any "proof" in the newspapers/web because this is not the sort of thing that makes the news. And there may not be an obituary or funeral notice to find - not all families put them in the paper, especially for children.

So, IMHO, the take home lesson from this is that bad things can happen quickly when we don't expect them. So take what precautions you can to prevent accidents and remember that life is precious.

 

[currycook]

How very sad and as a parent my heart goes out to this family.

From first hand experience we had an accident happen to our DD several years ago at the Poly. The reaction time for the parimedics was very fast as well as all sorts of managerial staff who came to the scene as well.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

Originally posted by TwingleMum
I posted the church where the little boy was buried I believe it was Wed. Call. Then when you find out its true maybe you'll be able to pray for this poor family then. I can't believe the vicious posts. I didn't post to be called a liar. I posted when the news was fresh and in a misguided moment thought I could protect all your children & I wanted to warn people. I never said it was any one persons fault. I hit out at Disney first because you can't wrap your mind around how awful it is. Was it unfortunate to give a 3yr old a hot dog & have him choke on it and die, YES. Could you walk up to his mother & tell her its her fault. I couldn't she'll do that enough for the rest of her life. But I was told (yes spainish inquisition I wasn't there didn't eye witness it) that Disney couldn't get through the crowd. How long was it Clarence Darrow? again I don't know. So what its not in the papers that makes it untrue? There are 2 other posters who live in the same community and knew about it. They posted on the other board, I posted it in 2 different places because I was worried & upset and knew people go to these boards the most.I was upset when I first posted and I wanted to warn people to be extra cautious with their kids, and yes I still am worried about WDW response time. Am I going to go and grill the mother for all the gory details NO. Lawsuit?? Who the hell cares aout the money? There isn't enough money in the world to bring her little boy back. And if some of you were on the jury you'd probably execute her. Will I still go to WDW yes. But I'll be extra careful.

I'd already heard this story -- or parts of it anyhow -- from Ripleysmom before you posted here. the mother teaches in Ripleysmom's home town, as she indicated.

My former secretary's 4-year-old nephew died after choking on a hot dog last year. it's tragic.

I also believe that the mother's perception is that the ambulance didn't arrive fast enough,and that is what she shared with her friends and colleagues. I cannot imagine being the parnet of a small child and waiting helplessly while my child suffers. every second must feel like hours.

but from a purely objective standpoint, I don't know if your story is true. I'm sure the mother feels it's true. I'm also sure the mother feels a tremendous amount of guilt for giving her child a hot dog in th first place. my secretary's mother was the one who gave the hot dog to the 4 year old, and the grandmother was never the same after the boy died in her care.

it's a tragic situation. I feel so bad for that family.

 

[montessori]

Such a tragic and heartbreaking accident.
There is no reason to blame anyone, it was an accident.
I feel so sorry for this family and can't even begin to imagine how much they are suffering.

I do believe the message that needs to be conveyed is "Be careful what you let your children eat."
Instead the message seems to be, "Be careful at Disney World". Like there's more of a chance you will die from something while there than anywhere else.

People have reacted a little too harshly, in my opinion, but you never know what cord you are going to strike when you post on these boards.

 

[MontyMontyMOnty]

When I mentioned this discussion had been opened by the OP on other "boards", I actually meant the boards at Disneycentral.com--there is an identical post by the OP on the theme parks board there. The fact that the OP posted multiple times one DIS boards, and on a completely different website was what I was questioning.

 

[eeyore0062]

I have a few things to add:

1) It is unfortunate for the child and the family and my thoughts go out to them.

2) YES, giving hotdogs to toddlers, especially in an environment as exciting and stimulating as WDW without first ensuring they are not a choking hazard is careless. Although the mother will live with this her entire line, there really is no one else for which the blame to lie.

3) I don't see the point in posting this twice. Does the OP have a major ax to grind against Disney? Why is she trying to make everyone here think that Disney is an unsafe place to be? I hope that she can come to terms with her feelings.

4) Disney has some of the best response times of any public place for accidents. The child would have been taken backstage where he could have been attended without onlookers gawking.

5) Time perception from the standpoint of someone actually involved in a tragedy is skewed. What may have taken 3 minutes probably seemed more like hours. Everything seems to go in slow motion. Mom needs a scapegoat, and who better than a huge corporate conglomerate to blame? She is feeling guilty and KNOWS that if she hadn't fed the child that hotdog they wouldn't have been in that situation in the 1st place.

6) I think that this subject has been exhausted on the community board, but most definitely on this board, as it really has nothing to do about Trip Planning.


NOW can we go on to more topical and pleasant subjects?