Doctor shares three vital things every parent should know to save their child’s life if they start choking

A pediatrician and father-of-seven has shared the three vital things that every parent should know in order to save their child’s life if they start choking… and has revealed why they should never call 911.

Dr. Michael Milobsky, from Colorado, has earned viral fame on TikTok for using his years of experience in the medical field to share advice to parents.

Most recently, he posted a video detailing the steps that moms and dads should take if their toddler starts choking in order to help clear their airways.

He explained that acting fast and doing things correctly in the moment is extremely important since every second counts when a kid is struggling to breathe.

That’s why he said you shouldn’t waste time calling for an ambulance. 

‘There is one main skill and piece of knowledge that every parent needs to know to save your child’s life at home and that’s how to manage choking,’ he began in the video.

‘With choking, it is so important to know how to act in the moment because by the time you call 911 and get help, the damage is done and it could be permanent.’

First, the doctor said you should never ‘blindly stick your finger in your baby’s mouth to try to pull’ whatever is stuck out.

A pediatrician and father-of-seven has shared the three vital things that every parent should know in order to save their child’s life if they start choking

Dr. Michael Milobsky explained that acting fast and doing things correctly in the moment is important since every second counts when a kid is struggling to breathe (stock image)

‘Why? Your child’s airway is shaped like a funnel and not a cylinder, and if you push it in further it will become lodged and impossible to remove,’ he explained.

‘This could possibly end your child’s life, do not blindly stick your finger in your child’s mouth unless you can see what you’re getting.’ 

Next, he said that if your child is coughing or making any sounds, then you shouldn’t start the Heimlich maneuver. 

But if their ability to make sounds stops, you should ‘immediately’ turn them over start doing ‘back blows between their shoulder blades.’

‘You hit them hard as if you’re abusing them, that hard,’ he stressed. 

‘If that dislodges the problem, great. If that does not, then you go to [abdominal] thrusts. 

‘You do thrusts in the belly at the bottom of the breast bone about two fingers down, but don’t spend a lot of time being ultra precise. 

‘You put your fist there and you push in and up as hard as you can, as if you’re trying to hurt your child.’

If their ability to make sounds stops, you should ‘immediately’ turn them over start doing ‘back blows between their shoulder blades’

He added, ‘If that dislodges the problem, great. If that does not, then you go to [abdominal] thrusts. You do thrusts in the belly at the bottom of the breast bone about two fingers down’

Dr. Milobsky revealed that he actually used this when his own daughter started choking on a piece of pizza crust a few years ago, and ‘saved her life.’ 

‘As a parent of seven children, in my whole career of parenting, I have only had to use this once but I saved the life of [my daughter], and without knowing this, it would have been over,’ he shared.

As for how to prevent choking, he warned that almost all ‘choking events’ occur when toddler-age kids walk around while eating.

‘Do not let your children walk and eat. When children eat, they should be sitting and still,’ he stressed.

‘That’s when I have seen almost all choking events occur, including the one in my own home.’

According to the American Red Cross, you should give five back blows to a child who is choking, which involves ‘using the heel of the hand to strike between the shoulder blades.’

‘If no improvement, have the person stand up straight. Move behind the person; bend your knees slightly for balance and support,’ the website says.

‘Give five abdominal thrusts. Pull inward and upward each time. Continue giving five back blows and five abdominal thrusts until the person can cough, cry or speak, or becomes unresponsive.

‘If the person becomes unresponsive, lower them to a firm, flat surface, and begin CPR (starting with compressions) according to your level of training.’