Very Very Sad :(

[southerngale]

This just tears up my heart. I'm only posting it because if any of ya'll have small children, I want to make sure you know to never give them hot dogs. It is on the list of things for children under 2 NEVER to eat. I didn't even let my kids eat them until they were 3 years old.


Toddler Dies After Choking On Hot Dog

HOUSTON, 11:00 a.m. CDT April 10, 2003 - A Houston toddler died Wednesday night after choking on a hot dog, authorities said.



The incident happened at about 11 p.m. Wednesday night at the family's home at the Silver Creek Apartments, 3200 Magnum, in northwest Houston.

Investigators told News2Houston that paramedics responded to a choking call of a 16-month-old girl and quickly began performing CPR on her.

She was transported to Texas Children's Hospital, where she later died.

The victim's mother is 19 years old and has three other children, authorities said.

Police and Children's Protective Services are investigating the case, interviewing relatives and witnesses.

An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death, authorities said.

[bfez1]

that is a heartbreaking story

[sunny shine]

Oh my goodness!! That poor baby!!

[ColdFront77]

Poor baby! Hopefully it will be found that this 2 year old choked on a hot dog and not considered a true "Child Protection Service case."

[Miss Mary]

Truly tragic outcome. Oh that poor mother! What she must be going thru I can only imagine.

I worked for ENT doctors years ago. One doc treated a young child who had choked on a large marshmallow. Sadly, the child did not make it. Very young age, around 2 also. This doctor told us all what young children should not eat: whole grapes, hot dogs unless cut up very small, large whole marshmallows, etc. I didn't even have kids yet but I remembered that advice. Another worry in this category: allowing a child this age to blow a balloon up. Often they'll suck it right into their throat, cutting off their air way. If I remember any more cautions or foods to avoid I'll post them. That's all I can think of right now. For years I cut up grapes and hot dogs for my kids. Long after it was necessary probably. I always emptied mop water too after mopping - pouring it down the toilet. Actually still do that, just out of habit. Young children can fall in head first.

Very sad story. Deeply feel for this young mother.

[southerngale]

I know Miss Mary, I can't even imagine!! I have a 14 month old baby girl and this baby girl was only 16 months old. Not even 1 1/2 yet. I wonder if that is why CPS is involved. That's quite young for a hot dog.

It's just so sad...it literally breaks my heart. I posted this in case anyone on here didn't know about the danger of hot dogs and little ones.

God, please comfort that young mom and this baby's 3 other siblings.

[vbhoutex]

That is so sad!!!! I did not see that on the news here. I probably just missed it.
Miss Mary, we cut up our childrens hot dogs and grapes for at least 3 or 4 years. Fortunately we never had a problem. I can not even imagine losing one of them now and they are 20 and 23.

Sotrajic!! I pray for God's healing hands of comfort for this family.

[Miss Mary]

Meant to add I heard even if you cut up hotdogs into circles, size of quarters for example, that's too risky it seems. So I was cutting them into fourths for years. I don't think you have to worry about bananas though - they're too mushy. Anything in a circle is a worry. When I worked at this office we were watching a 3 year old while the mother had a hearing test. We gave her a dum dum sucker. Then she popped the stick right off and handed it to me, with her mouth closed. Somehow I didn't panic. I simply asked her to spit the sucker out into my hand and got her another sucker. I made darn sure that stick was on tight. After that I think I always checked! Just a little scare there for someone who hadn't been around kids in ages (besides my babysitting days). We all kept checking on that little girl sitting just behind our chairs while answering phones.

[Amanzi]

That is so very sad, I can not imagine how painfull it must be for that poor mother. I too pray the Lord will extend his grace and peace to her in her time of need.

My son is nearly 4 and I still cut up his hot dogs. Another thing that is a BIG no no for little mouths is peanuts! I was at the doc's office when a little boy was in the parking lot with his mom (thank goodness he was so near the the office) he must have been around 1-1 1\2, was brought in because his mom gave him a packet of peanuts to chew on, he had breathed in and the peanut whent down "the wrong way" The nurse managed to dislodge it. Another thing that scares me is tiny toy's like small lego peices and even coins, little ones will put any thing in there mouths.

[wrkh99]

Is there a link to this story ? All parents should know CPR and take better care of there kids .

[isobar]

You're right wrkh99, all parents and sitters should know CPR.

Mary - I also remember the mop bucket danger. It's one of the little things you don't think about.

Accidents happen so fast. They have to be watched so carefully at that age.

[TexasStooge]

Very, very sad.

[Miss Mary]

Amanzi - you're right about peanuts. However I never had to worry about that (different worrry) since my 15 yr old had a peanut allergy. We can't have anything peanut related in the house. But I have heard that any nuts could pose a choking situation.

One more thing, you always, always take the child into the bathroom with you. I never left my kids alone in the other room unless napping in a crib. I think I even kept a basket of toys in the bathroom! They'd sit, I'd go and then we'd all go do something else. In fact I told this to Nina, when she started babysitting. You just can't leave a young child alone - she does take them into the bathroom, thankfully. Some of this seems so common sense to me but then some not so obvious.

[Amanzi]

Me to MissMary. I never left my son for 2 mins without my beedy eye on him. A lot of people forget and leave the bathroom door open when a baby starts to walk or crawl, and they can fall head first into the toilet, not to mention how much fun they can have by throwing things into the toilet too!

[Miss Mary]

Amanzi - another good tip. There are toilet lid locks I believe. And door knob guards. I'm long past all of this, my 15 3/4 will be driving soon (I made her wait 3 months) so I have a whole new set of worries. LOL But lots of good advice here with parents raising young children.

[weatherlover427]

Wow that is very sad. I pray that their family will heal soon.

[Amanzi]

LOL Mary, I have just gotten over the locks and latches age. I would love to have another one soon, so I guess I had better hang onto them!

[southerngale]

Is there a link to this story ? All parents should know CPR and take better care of there kids .

I posted all there was in the link, but here it is.
http://www.click2houston.com/hou/news/stories/news-210327520030410-070432.html