A year ago this week, Jacob Jenkins, a two-year-old toddler, from Hartlepool in the UK died in Pizza Hut after choking on a grape. His anniversary has renewed warnings to parents and grandparents about the dangers of feeding whole grapes to small children. According to the HSE, choking is one of the most common causes of childhood death in Ireland.
In the last decade, there have been numerous cases of children passing away due to a grape getting caught in their windpipe. Grapes are the perfect size to get completely lodged in a child’s windpipe and once there, they are almost impossible to get out.
Parents and Grandparents are advised to cute grapes lengthways before giving them to children. This isn’t just for toddlers and small babies, but for bigger kids too. In 2014, 6 year old Jasmin Lapsley died in Wales after choking on a grape her mother gave her.
Her parents, Robert and Kathleen Lapsley battled to save her, but the six-year-old sadly died.
Speaking of how they struggled to move on with their lives, Jasmine’s mother said: “When you open your eyes every morning, it’s just there.
“This nightmare’s just there.
“And we have to live with that now for the rest of our lives. She was always what we’ve wanted.”
“She’s not here any more.”
To prevent this terrible tragedy happening to other families, the HSE recommend a number of precautions to keep children safe from choking. Grandparents and parents are advised not to leave a child alone at meal or snack times. Children should also not eat in bed or while they’re running or walking around. Finally, the HSE strongly recommend cutting grapes and cherry tomatoes in quarters, or smaller pieces, before giving them to young children. The fruit could otherwise totally block a child’s airway in a choking incident.
If the unthinkable happens and a child in your care does start choking, St. John’s Ambulance has realeased the below videos to help in a choking situation.
For babies under 1 year old:
For bigger children and adults:
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