Child Chokes in Coffee Shop

Recently I went for a coffee with a good friend of mine.

Anyone who knows me knows I use coffee shops a lot, both for socialising with friends during the day and for business meetings if they are not too noisy.

We decided to meet in Bedford, which was the halfway point for both of us.

It had been a few years since we last visited, so we thought it would be nice to revisit this lovely market town.

We met at a car park and decided to go in search of a coffee shop.

There were plenty of people about, and that is usually a good sign that plenty is going on.

We finally found a coffee shop.

Finally, we found a coffee shop, ordered our coffees, and then found a seat by the window.

We were deep in conversation and must have been chatting for a good while.

Suddenly, we heard some commotion coming from the back of the coffee shop.

It quickly became apparent that a young child was choking on something.

By this time, the mother was becoming increasingly distraught, as one would expect.

We realised that nobody had gone to this lady’s aid, and the child, who was no more than 4 years old, was going blue.

So we dashed across to the distraught lady and said I am a healthcare professional, would you like some help, (Always wise to ask permission first), and she said Yes, my baby is choking.

Nobody wanted to step up and help a child in distress

Everyone is just looking and doing nothing to help us, so I picked up the child in my arms with the head facing down and started giving hard back slaps whilst my friend rang for the ambulance.

After three back slaps, the object popped out onto the floor, and would you believe it, the offending object was a ‘red Lego brick’ and some muffin, what is it with bright colours and kids?

The paramedics rushed through the door, handed the child to them, and explained that the object had dislodged and was now on the floor.

We were greatly relieved

It was excellent to see the child’s colour coming back.

The paramedics were busy checking the child, and the mother began to calm down from what had been a traumatic experience for her; after all, many people had just stood and watched.

None had offered any assistance to them, and it seems that’s the way the world is these days, with nobody wanting to get involved.

The paramedics decided that the child needed to be checked over at the hospital to ensure everything was Ok.

On the way out, the paramedics and the mother thanked us both for our prompt action, which was a lovely touch for what had been a traumatic event for the mother and child, as well as us.

We needed another coffee after that

We decided we had enough excitement for one day and were about to leave when the coffee shop manager asked if they could buy us a coffee and chat with us.

During our conversation with the manager, we learned that all the staff had recently completed an Emergency First Aid at Work course.

However, they didn’t feel confident in a situation like the one we had just experienced, and this incident had proven their concerns to be justified.

Our first aid training is different to many providers

Learners who attend our first aid courses undergo continuous assessment throughout the course.

If we notice someone lacking confidence, we can identify it early.

With gentle encouragement and our thoughtfully designed courses, we help them become confident and competent first aiders.

And if an emergency happens, like the one earlier, your first aiders will successfully manage the situation till professional help arrives on the scene.

The manager returns

The manager left and returned within five minutes with the owner, who then decided to sign up all his staff and himself for an Emergency First Aid at Work course with us.

He saw the value in having a regulated and accredited qualification that is also Ofqual-approved, and he would close the cafe for 1 day in September so all staff could attend.

Summing up

Summing Up.

If you are going to learn first aid, it is essential to do your due diligence and research your chosen first aid provider, especially if you are using an unregulated one.

Most reputable first aid providers welcome this and will provide all the necessary information to help you make an informed decision.

Using a regulated provider, your due diligence in respect of first aid is already done for you by the awarding organisation.

After all, someone’s life may depend on it, just like the child in the coffee shop.