Every parent knows the fear, the sound of a sudden fall, the silence after a choking cough, the sharp cry of pain that stops you in your tracks. In those moments, time seems to pause and your heart races faster than your thoughts.
At LECC, we see these moments daily, and we understand the panic, the confusion, and the urgency. That’s why we want to talk to you, parent to parent, about what to do when the unimaginable happens and how to prepare for it before it does.
Choking: The Panic No One Prepares You For
It often starts so innocently, a seed, a piece of meat, a small toy. One second your child is giggling, the next, they’re gasping. Choking is one of the most terrifying emergencies a parent can witness. But knowing how to react can make the difference between life and death.
If your child can cough or speak, encourage them to keep coughing. But if they can’t make a sound, turn them face down, support their head, and deliver five back blows between the shoulder blades. If that doesn’t work, turn them over and give five chest thrusts, similar to CPR. Stay calm, but act fast. And always call for emergency help.
When They Swallow Something Dangerous
Household cleaners, medication, kerosene, these things aren’t always locked away. If your child swallows something harmful, don’t induce vomiting. It can cause more harm. Call a doctor or poison control center immediately, and try to identify exactly what they ingested. Knowing the substance helps doctors act faster.
After a Fall: Head Injuries and Broken Bones
Children fall, it’s part of growing up. But not every fall is harmless. If your child hits their head and vomits, seems confused, becomes unusually sleepy, or loses consciousness, seek medical attention immediately.
These could be signs of a concussion or internal bleeding. For possible fractures, avoid moving the limb unnecessarily. If there’s swelling, bruising, or they can’t bear weight, wrap the area gently with a cloth or sling and bring them to the hospital.
CPR for Children: A Life Skill Every Parent Should Know
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) isn’t just for doctors. In a crisis, when a child stops breathing or their heart stops beating, your ability to do CPR while help arrives could save their life. Compress the chest at the center, about 100–120 times per minute, and give rescue breaths if you’re trained to do so.
It’s scary, yes, but it’s better to try than do nothing at all. We offer CPR training sessions at LECC because we believe every parent, nanny, and teacher should know how to respond in those precious early minutes.
Coughs, Colds, and the Confusion in Between
It’s hard to tell when your child’s cough is just a cold or something more serious. A simple rule of thumb: if it lasts more than a week, comes with a high fever, causes wheezing, or makes your child struggle to breathe, see a pediatrician. Not every cough needs antibiotics, but the ones that do can escalate quickly without proper care.
Preventing colds starts with good hygiene m, handwashing, avoiding sharing utensils, and limiting contact with sick individuals. Keep their immune system strong with fruits, sleep, and plenty of water.
Why We Care So Deeply
At LECC, our pediatric emergency and intensive care units are more than medical spaces, they are places where fear meets hope, and where frantic parents are reminded they’re not alone.
We’ve treated infants who couldn’t breathe, toddlers who drank bleach, and school-aged children who collapsed unexpectedly. And in every case, the earlier the response, the better the outcome.
That’s why we share these stories, these tips, these heartbeats of guidance, so that you, too, can be ready. Because being a parent isn’t just about love. It’s about preparation, action, and knowing when it’s time to seek help.
Let’s keep our children safe together. Need Emergency response?
Call us right away: +234 817 365 1737 Website: www.thelecc.com
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