Knowing the Choking Maneuver Averts a Mother's Nightmare

Deborahs children are the light of her life, theyre just so special. Thats why, she says, she took CPR and first aid training.

I believe, as a mother and an educator, that everyone who is around kids should take first aid and CPR training, she said. Theyre your babies and its your job to protect them, and you cant do your job without this knowledge.

Deborah had never been so grateful to have that training as the day her son, Jonah, 5, needed it most.

Deborah and her family were crossing a street on their way to a parent-teacher conference at the near-by elementary school when suddenly Jonah, who was snacking on a nutrition bar, stopped and started coughing with his hands up around his throat.

Jonah, are you okay? she asked. He could only shake his head no. Jonah, are you choking? she asked quickly as Jonah coughed and nodded.

Her instincts and training kicking in, Deborah took action. One thrust to the back. Nothing. Two thrusts, his face is starting to turn colors.

Deborah stepped behind her son, and not thinking, just doing, she performed the choke maneuver on her young son, thrusting her arms inward and upward into his small abdomen.

Finally, after only a few moments, but what seemed like an eternity, a small piece of food flew from his small mouth and Jonah began to breathe.

The thought of your child being in peril is scary enough, but the thought of not being able to help is fifty times worse, said Deborah.

Deborah has never been so grateful for taking a few hours out of her day to take CPR and first aid, which includes training on how to help someone who is choking.