A registered nurse has shared how her quick reaction on instinct managed to save her nine-month-old son from choking.
Christa Stachura was home with her son, Jack, eating lunch when she noticed he was struggling to breathe.
The Emergency Room and Trauma Registered Nurse from Okemos, Michigan, USA, had to slap her son on the back to prevent him from choking
Christa, 30, and her baby had just gotten back from a couple of days in the hospital when the terrifying incident occurred.
The tot had been admitted to the hospital with COVID-related pneumonia and dehydration.
His mum had been so happy he'd finally started eating solid foods again, when disaster struck.
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She said: "I was so excited that he finally wanted to eat solids after not wanting to eat or drink for days.
"He was eating some eggs and thinly-sliced apple when I saw him gagging.
"We do some baby-led weaning so gagging and coughing can be normal.
"Of course as any mother would be, I was nervous and watching him but I also stayed calm so he wouldn't panic."
Jack then began waving his arms by his throat, with silent tears streaming down his face.
Christa leapt into action, whipping of his bib, putting her son face-down on his lap and giving him five firm back slaps to dislodge the piece of apple.
Once she saw the apple come out and heard his gasp for air, she knew her son was safe.
Christa decided to share a clip of the incident on TikTok to educate fellow parents about the importance of CPR and first aid techniques.
"Initially I felt a little guilty, I didn't know that apples were a common choking hazard," she explained. "But I think it's important not to shame ourselves or others.
"Parents are always going to make some mistakes but we can constantly learn from them too.
"Most of the reactions have been so positive and supportive, but there have been a couple of people who think I overreacted.
"Babies and toddlers are constantly exploring and putting things in their mouths and it's a parent's job to protect them
"When in doubt, always trust your instinct and take action - a few back slaps won't hurt them!"
Christa hopes that her video will encourage mums and dads to research food safety and learn choking signs to prevent potentially dangerous situations.
She also recommends undertaking first aid courses and learning about the latest health advice.
The mum added: "Firstly, you should always be with your baby when they're eating.
"It's very important to know the differences between gagging and choking and how food should be prepared - talk with your paediatrician and get good recommendations.
"I work in the emergency department and have proper training, which was essential in saving Jack from choking.
"There are plenty of resources available for people to get first aid and CPR trained.
"It's also vital to renew your training yearly - being as prepared as possible could literally save someone's life one day."
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