HIGH ALERT
Mum issues urgent Cadbury’s Mini Egg warning after finding her son seconds from death – and blasts minimum age limit
Watch the video on what to do if I child is choking
A MUM has banned Cadbury Mini Eggs in her house after claiming her son turned BLUE and nearly choked to death when one became lodged down his throat.
Vicky Heavey was seconds away from performing CPR on her seven-year-old son Jacob Heavey when he came sprinting outside with his hands clutching around his throat on March 2.
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The 40-year-old said her little one's face 'turned blue' and eyes became bloodshot when she began slapping her son's back to help dislodge the item blocking his airways.
After two painfully long minutes of choking, Vicky said a Mini Egg flew out of Jacob's mouth and landed in the front garden, before the youngster was sick from the ordeal.
The mum-of-two, from Warrington, Cheshire, said she could've easily lost her child that day - and vowed never to give her child Mini Eggs again.
The Child Accident Prevention Trust has urged parents to 'please be safe' when giving Cadbury Mini Eggs to their kids during the Easter season.
Read more on choking
The organisation warned that the Easter treats may be the 'perfect small treat for your little one' but due to their size, they could block a small child's airway.
Vicky, a student nurse and also mum to 20-year-old daughter Ellie Heavey, said she had bought her son a packet of Mini Eggs as a weekend treat, which he began eating on the sofa before the incident took place.
Vicky said: "Jacob came running outside with his hands around his throat. It was obvious he was choking, he couldn't speak.
"I just knew immediately he was choking. I could see the terror in his face. He couldn't breathe.
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"I was trying to encourage him to cough but he couldn't cough. I work in a hospital so I was quite aware of what I needed to do. I had no idea what he was choking on.
"It went on for a really long time, he was going blue, his eyes went bloodshot. It was quite silent considering he was choking."
Child first aid experts have previously warned that choking can be silent.
Vicky went on: "I was horrified. It was close to two minutes. I was close to doing CPR and ringing the ambulance.
"Then there was just one big blow and this Mini Egg came flying out and he was sick everywhere.
"I said to my daughter ring an ambulance and as she was getting her phone out, that's when the Mini Egg came out."
Vicky said her family have enjoyed Mini Eggs 'millions of times' over the years - but never considered the small round objects could be a choking hazard.
Vicky said: "We're a family who love Mini Eggs. He must've had about a million Mini Eggs in his life. It's not something we ever thought would happen.
"It didn't actually hit me until the next day. What if he hadn't ran out to me? What if he stayed in the front room? If someone's not breathing, then you only have a short amount of time.
"He was seconds away from going unconscious - he could not breathe. You just don't expect it to happen when you've had Mini Eggs so many times."
Warning on packet
The mum has put a ban on Mini Eggs in the home this Easter - and believes Cadbury should expand the age range warning on the back of the packet.
Mini Eggs currently have a written warning on their packaging which states the chocolate should not be consumed by children under the age of four.
Vicky said: "There's a warning on the packet for under-4s but Jacob is seven. I don't think the warning should be age specific. Even me as an adult, I could've easily choked on it.
"You never think you could lose your child by a bit of chocolate. It was terrifying. I never thought in a million years I'd have to do that to my child because of a Mini Egg.
"I was so close to having to perform CPR in my front garden on my own child because of a Mini Egg.
"This has put me off for life. Mini Eggs are banned this Easter. It's not worth the risk. I can't believe how long it took to dislodge."
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A Mondelez International spokesperson, who own Cadbury, said: "The safety of consumers is of the upmost importance to us and all of our Cadbury Mini Eggs products carry a very clear choking hazard warning on pack.
"We also highlight that these products are not suitable for children under the age of four on all Mini Eggs packaging."
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Signs your child is choking and what to do
IF your child chokes, try not to panic or freeze.
According to , if your little one is choking they may:
- have difficulty breathing, speaking or coughing
- have a red puffy face
- show signs of distress and they may point to their throat or grasp their neck
The NHS says if the child is coughing, encourage them to continue as they may be able to bring the object up. Don't leave them alone while this is happening.
But if their coughing is silent, they can't breathe properly or they don't bring anything up, get help immediately.
Use back blows on your tot if they're still conscious.
First aiders at St John Ambulance give the following advice based on the child’s age.
Baby
- Slap it out:
- Lay the baby face down along your thigh and support their head
- Give five back blows between their shoulder blades
- Turn them over and check their mouth each time
2. Squeeze it out:
- Turn the baby over, face upwards, supported along your thigh
- Put two fingers in the centre of their chest just below the nipple line; push downwards to give up to five sharp chest thrusts
- Check the mouth each time
3. If the item does not dislodge, call 999 or 112 for emergency help
- Take the baby with you to call
- Repeat the steps 1 and 2 until help arrives
- Start CPR if the baby becomes unresponsive (unconscious)
Child
1. Cough it out
- Encourage the casualty to keep coughing, if they can
2. Slap it out
- Lean them forwards, supporting them with one hand
- Give five sharp back blows between the shoulder blades
- Check their mouth each time but do not put your fingers in their mouth
3. Squeeze it out
- Stand behind them with your arms around their waist, with one clenched fist between their belly button and the bottom of their chest
- Grasp the fist in the other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards, giving up to five abdominal thrusts
- Check their mouth each time
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