The girl, from Dak Jri village, Kon Braih commune, was admitted to the hospital on the afternoon of 22/7 unconscious, not breathing, and cyanotic. Doctors worked for an hour but were unable to revive her.

According to Dr. Nguyen Canh Son, head of the emergency department, choking on foreign objects is common in children aged one to three. Small items like fruit seeds, candy, or toys can cause respiratory and cardiac arrest if not treated promptly.

If a child shows signs of choking, such as coughing, turning blue, or losing consciousness, caregivers should not attempt to remove the object by reaching into the throat, as this may push it further down.

For children under two, lay them face down with their head lower than their chest and firmly pat their back five times between the shoulder blades. If this is ineffective, turn them face up and perform five chest compressions. For older children, the Heimlich maneuver can be used to dislodge the object. After removing the object, take the child to the nearest medical facility.

Pham Linh