«Every year in Italy more than 50 children, one a week, lose their lives due to suffocation caused by airway obstruction. They die because whoever is next to them at that moment does not know how to intervene». This is what is reported on the website of the Ministry of Health.
Public opinion, in recent years, has proved to be highly sensitive to the problem: it has finally been understood that the knowledge of some maneuvers to free the airways from food or foreign bodies, by parents, school staff or even simple citizens, can be instrumental in saving lives .
The Ministry of Health has chosen April 23 as the National Day of Pediatric Unblocking Maneuvers . There are an increasing number of voluntary associations that provide free courses in Italy and the offer of professional courses and certificates accredited to the regional 118 has also improved (Italian law does not currently provide for compulsory courses in schools and during preparatory courses ).
Of course, prevention is also important , which means implementing measures so that, in spaces inhabited by children under 4, dangerous objects are not left within the reach of curious little hands.
In particular, removable toys, lithium batteries, magnets, pen caps, balls of all types and materials, coins, charms and buttons. Then there is the whole sphere of foods, some highly dangerous such as candies, pistachios and hazelnuts, but also foods with a cylindrical shape (mozzarella, sliced carrots, frankfurters), or sticky, which fray (such as cured ham), which have a strong adherence (julienne carrots) or which, even if cut, do not lose their consistency (hard pears, plums, some biscuits).
Once the environment has been made safe, unfortunately we cannot be sure that an accident will never happen. Small children have a reduced ability to forcefully expel a foreign body: it doesn't take much to arrive at the tragedy. From this framework derives the awareness to attend dedicated courses , in which we will talk about the safety of the house and prevention in general, but also about how to understand if the child is suffocating due to an external object. You will then be instructed on the maneuvers to be performed based on the age of the child and on how to react if it becomes necessary to call 118.
Even the emotional aspect of the adult is a component that should not be underestimated and which is normally treated in the courses.
In any case, experts advise not to 'settle' for one lesson , but to repeat the route at least once a year or to refresh one's memory through specific online videos on the subject, then trying to repeat the maneuvers independently.
In addition to the courses, there are now also dedicated apps , which even include the widget for the immediate request for help. We point out the app of the Italian Red Cross which teaches step by step the maneuvers to be implemented in the event of an emergency.
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