When I spent my whole 3 weeks in the military I took a first aid course. A couple years later Tobei was on me to take the training again. I argued I didn’t need to. I mean he is fully trained and re qualified every 2 years. Once he pointed out that he isn’t always home I reluctantly went and took the course again. Of course it was all the same darn training but at least it was a good refresher.
Tonight I was thankful to have my first aid training.
Tobei had gone grocery shopping so it was just me and the boys home. Big Brother was on the computer playing minecraft, Little Brother was playing on the floor with his toys and I was on the couch playing in my iPhone.
I glance over at the boys and notice Little Brother has the gagging face going on. However there is no sound coming from him, no gagging sound, no coughing, just the face of someone choking on something.
I drop my phone and run over. Check his mouth and nothing. Rub his back for a second and have a panic moment though of running to the neighbors with my baby while calling 911. That second passed and my training kicked in.
At the very back of his mouth and partly in his throat was a piece of a straw wrapper from Big Brother’s juice boxes. I carefully and quickly removed the straw wrapper and all was well. I hugged my baby as he looked at me like “what the heck mom, everything is fine let me go play”. Since he was fine and really I don’t need to panic my baby I sat him beside me and called over Big Brother who had no clue anything was going on though he was sitting 2 feet from me the entire time at the dining room table.
We had a stern yet calm talk about putting his garbage in the garbage can and keeping all small things out of his brothers reach. I explained to him what happened to his brother and what could have happened. He apologized to me, hugged his brother and apologized to him then played with his brother for a few minutes while I composed myself in the kitchen.
Tobei got home about 15 minutes later and I was still shaken but the boys were 100% fine. Tonight we are all thankful that I have my first aid training. Everyone should have it, at the very least all parents should have it. It buys you precious time. You can save your child from a potentially very bad situation before an ambulance would have time to arrive.