A nine-month-old baby girl from Beit Shemesh died at the pediatric emergency department at Shaare Zedek Medical Center after choking, likely on a foreign object that blocked her airways, according to reports.
Magen David Adom (MDA) rescue teams were called to the scene immediately and began advanced resuscitation efforts on site upon their arrival, attempting to restore the baby's breathing and pulse.
Right after the infant arrived at the hospital, medical teams continued prolonged resuscitation efforts.
During treatment in the emergency department, doctors managed to remove a foreign object from the child’s trachea. However, despite all efforts, they were unable to stabilize her condition, resulting in her death. The hospital expressed its condolences to the family.
Choking poses severe threat within minutes
Choking on a foreign object may occur when an object or food blocks the trachea, preventing normal airflow to the lungs.
Unlike partial obstructions, where the patient can cough or make sounds, a complete blockage rapidly causes severe respiratory distress, inability to speak, cyanosis, and loss of consciousness. Without reopening the airway within minutes, irreversible brain damage or death may happen.
Choking can occur while eating too quickly, laughing or talking while eating, or placing objects in the mouth. Round, hard foods such as candies, nuts, hard carrots, or uncut grapes are considered particularly dangerous. Small toy parts can also pose a serious risk.
Although choking is more common among infants and toddlers, school-aged children are also at risk.
Treatment for choking depends on the victim’s age and level of consciousness. When a child over one year old or a conscious adult is choking and unable to speak, cough, or breathe, the Heimlich maneuver should be performed immediately.
When performing the maneuver, the person rescuing an infant should stand behind the child, wrap their arms around the abdomen, place a clenched fist above the navel and below the breastbone, and deliver quick, forceful inward and upward thrusts. These thrusts create sudden pressure in the chest and airways, intended to expel the foreign object.
The responsible adult should continue thrusts until the object is expelled or until the child loses consciousness.
If the infant loses consciousness, he/she should be laid on their back, as the adult calls for help, and begins a resuscitation maneuver with chest compressions and rescue breaths.
During resuscitation, the person in the rescue position should repeatedly check the infant's mouth to see if the foreign object can be identified and carefully removed. Blind finger sweeps should not be performed, as they may push the object deeper into the airway.
In cases of partial obstruction, where the child is coughing and able to breathe, the recommendation is to encourage coughing and avoid performing the Heimlich maneuver immediately, as effective coughing is the most efficient way to clear the foreign object.