I’m sharing this terrifying story of my little girl so all parents know what to do if their child is choking

A MUM is urging parents to learn vital first aid skills after her tot almost choked to death.

Little Millie was away on holiday for her first birthday in Queenland, Australia, with her parents when the traumatic experience took place.

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Instagram/Tiny Hearts

Sharing the story on the  Instagram page, her mum said the family had gone to KFC to grab a quick snack for the tot after a very early flight and missed nap.

“We were all exhausted and hungry,” she said. “And I thought chicken would be okay.”

Once they arrived at their accommodation, Millie began to tuck into her chicken as her parents unpacked.

Suddenly, the youngster started coughing, then went very silent.

Millie was choking.

Moments later, the mum’s partner came running into the room, holding Millie and screaming her name.

She said: “I froze, staring at her for what felt like an eternity while she went from bright red to blue.

“I will never forget the look of such panic in her eyes.”

When her partner shouted her name again she “snapped out of it” and started giving Millie back blows.

“I gave her one back blow which did nothing, so then I gave a second one harder which still did nothing,” she said.

When she gave her daughter the third, hard blow, the chicken came up.

“I have never been so terrified in my life,” she said.

Millie cried for a few minutes but quickly returned to her normal happy self, she added.

Millie’s mum did a first aid course when she was six months pregnant, which she attributes to her daughter being here today.

There are around 300 to 400 deaths directly linked to choking per year in the UK, around half of which are elderly adults.

Some 20 children under the age of 10 years old have died as a result of choking in the last four years, the majority aged between one and four – when a child usually starts to eat solid foods.

What to do if your child chokes

It’s a parents worst nightmare to imagine a situation in which they have to save their child from choking.

But in that moment, it may be you that has to step up and perform first aid.

The NHS says that if you can see an object lodged in your child’s mouth, take care to remove it.

Blindly poking at it could make things worse.

If the child is coughing, encourage them to continue as they may be able to bring the object up.

Don’t leave them unattended.

If the coughing isn’t effective (it is silent or they cannot breathe properly), shout for help immediately.

If the child is still conscious, use back blows. 

First aiders at give the following advice based on the child’s age:

Baby

1. Slap it out:

• Lay the baby face down along your thigh and support their head  
• Give five back blows between their shoulder blades  
• Turn them over and check their mouth each time  

2. Squeeze it out:

• Turn the baby over, face upwards, supported along your thigh 
• Put two fingers in the centre of their chest just below the nipple line; push downwards to give up to five sharp chest thrusts 
• Check the mouth each time  

3. If the item does not dislodge, call 999 or 112 for emergency help  

• Take the baby with you to call  
• Repeat the steps 1 and 2 until help arrives 
• Start CPR if the baby becomes unresponsive (unconscious)  

Child

1. Cough it out  

• Encourage the casualty to keep coughing, if they can 

2. Slap it out  

• Lean them forwards, supporting them with one hand 
• Give five sharp back blows between the shoulder blades 
• Check their mouth each time but do not put your fingers in their mouth  

3. Squeeze it out  

• Stand behind them with your arms around their waist, with one clenched fist between their belly button and the bottom of their chest 
• Grasp the fist in the other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards, giving up to five abdominal thrusts 
• Check their mouth each time  

4. Call 999 or 112 for emergency help if the object does not dislodge  

• Repeat steps 2 and 3 until help arrives 
• Start CPR if the person becomes unresponsive (unconscious) 

5. Always seek medical advice if abdominal thrusts are used 

All kids are at risk of choking – especially those under the age of three.