Fort Myers boy, Pedro Diego, two, dies choking on a piece of candy

Fort Myers, Texas - Two-year old Pedro Diego choked to death on a piece of candy in front of his horrified mother. According to his mother, on Tuesday she watched Pedro put a piece of hard candy in his mouth and ran into another room. He ran back wheezing and his mother called 911 while his father hit him on his back trying to dislodge the candy. He died at the hospital.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD IS CHOKING

• If your child is having breathing difficulty but is able to speak or has a strong cough, call 911 but do nothing yourself. The cough is better than any back blows or abdominal thrusts.

• If your child can’t breathe at all, appears pale or his cough is weak, perform the Heimlich maneuver. Position yourself behind him and wrap your arms around his waist. Place the thumb side of your fist on the middle of the abdomen, below the tip of the breastbone. Grab that fist with your free hand, press inward with rapid, upward thrusts.

• If your child is unconscious, lower him to the floor on his back. Open his mouth with your thumb held over his tongue and your fingers wrapped around the lower jaw. As this draws the tongue away from the back of the throat, you may be able to clear the airway with your finger.

— Source: American Academy of Pediatrics

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Fort Myers boy, Pedro Diego, two, dies choking on a piece of candy

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD IS CHOKING

Baby Safety

Safety Tips