I’m a first responder so giving your child a hot chocolate can be deadly

The sun may be shining outside, but it’s still quite chilly and that means warming up with a hot drink.

However, one expert has warned that you should be careful about giving your kids certain hot drinks to keep them cozy.

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post on tick tocksaid first responder Nikki Jurcutz you should avoid ordering your child a hot chocolate with marshmallows.

The CEO of parent organization Tiny Hearts Education explained that while the marshmallows may be delicious, they could be fatal to your child.

She said: “Marsmallows in baby chinos are a no, no.

“They melt and become sticky and can easily get stuck in a tiny airway and will be difficult to get out.

“Keep the marshmallow until it’s three years old”.

In the video’s comments section, she added that mini marshmallows would be better, but said they could still “easily block an airway” and that they should be “used with caution.”

A blockage in the airways can be fatal as it can result in your little one not getting enough oxygen.

In severe cases, lack of oxygen can lead to brain damage and even a heart attack.

Children are at greater risk of obstruction in their airways than adults because they have smaller airways.

For this reason, small objects and toys are marked with a choking hazard warning label.

Children are also at risk as they may not chew their food well enough before swallowing it.

KNOW THE SIGNS

There are a few things to look out for if you think your child is suffering from a blocked airway.

If your child is restless, this can be a sign, as well as confusion, altered breathing patterns, gasping, panic, and high-pitched wheezing.

A choking child may cling to the chest or throat and be unable to speak, breathe, or cough.

If their face has turned pale or bluish, that could be a sign, and if they’re coughing profusely – that’s a sign they’re trying to remove anything that’s stuck – like a marshmallow.

Red Cross experts Explain that giving your child something to swallow might make the situation worse.

They say, “It’s not a good idea as it won’t clear the blockage and may make the situation worse by causing another blockage.”

RESCUER

Knowing what to do when a child is choking can be life-saving.

Red Cross experts said the five-strike rule must be remembered.

They explained: “Hit her on the back hard between the shoulder blades.

“Backblows create intense vibration and pressure in the airways, which is often enough to clear the blockage. Releasing the blockage allows them to breathe again.”

If the child is small, you will need to place him/her across your lap and then give up to five powerful back blows with the heel of your hand mid-back between the shoulder blades.

If the five back punches don’t work, you need to give five stomach thrusts.

To do this successfully, you need to hold the child around the waist and pull inward and up over their belly button.

This pushes the air out of the lungs, hopefully releasing the blockage.

The NHS says: “This will create an artificial cough, increasing pressure in the chest and helping to dislodge the object.”

During choking episodes, time is of the essence and if you were unable to remove the foreign object you should call 999.