Coroners Report on the Death of Six-Year-Old Pupil who Choked on Sausage

The sad death of Shannon Hennessey was recorded as "Accidental Death" at a Coroners hearing last month. The six-year-old pupil died after choking on a piece of sausage during lunch at Redhill Infants School in Castleford, Yorkshire (UK).

The Coroner, David Hinchliffe is reported to have reached the verdict after declaring that all that could have been done, had been done, to save her life.

Teachers, dinner staff and paramedics all tried to clear her throat and revive her on 8th November 2006, but she was pronounced dead after arriving at hospital.

It's a sad case because as a First Aider we try so hard in such situations, however, sometimes we have to come to terms with the fact that there is only so much we can do to help in an instance like this.

I'm sure the First Aiders concerned are deeply upset by the incident and I think it's vitally important that we recognise their bravery and courage in dealing with the child. For those who have seen a child choking on something, you'll know how terrifying it can be. We must congratulate the dinner lady who, even without formal training, had the courage to take action and help in this situation by carrying out the abdominal thrust.

In a First Aid situation, if a casualty is choking, the following action should be taken:

• Check the mouth is clear.
• Lean the casualty forward (child or baby: place over your knee, with the head lower than the rest of the body).
• Give the casualty 5 back slaps.
• If that does not work, give the casualty 5 abdominal thrusts.
• Repeat if necessary.
• If the casualty becomes unconscious, be prepared to resuscitate.

Please remember, in MOST cases, this simple procedure is VERY effective. Unfortunately, we rarely hear about the successful removal of an obstruction in a First Aid situation, yet it happens so often. If you have dealt with such a First Aid situation yourself, take the time to congratulate yourself on your action ... you are a star!


If you would like to see a demonstration of how to carry out the abdominal thrust,
please visit our website film demonstration

For an amusing demonstration of the abdominal thrust, try watching the movie "Mrs Doubtfire". The trailer can be viewed at New York Times Movies

Response to Last Posting Regarding Dirty Kitchens

Thanks Mick, for your response to our posting regarding the above. I will only publish comments that include links that do not conflict with either my business or my ethics! But to be fair, Mick made a very valid comment and here it is...without the link:

"it's unbelievable. Everyone in catering should have a basic food hygiene, and they're all available dirt cheap and online, so there's just no excuse."

My additional comment is that the study was carried out in the HOME, not just in catering environments! It's important that everyone at work AND home, protect themselves and their family (particularly the young and the elderly, who are most at risk). You only have to look at TV programmes like Kim & Aggie's How Clean is Your House? to see the kind of squalor that people live in!

I know that most of my readers don't live in this kind of squalor... how? Mainly because most of our readers have probably met me personally, either at a seminar or in some cases, your own home.

However it doesn't need to be the kind of squalor that gets you on TV to be a hazard to your health. Good health should be your most prized possession. Without it, the quality of your live can deteriorate and, in some cases, stop you from doing the things you really enjoy doing. So take the time now to look at your own kitchen hygiene practices, and make some adjustments now.

For information on food safety and hygiene courses that are fun, inspirational and easy-to-learn, visit OPTIMUM Training's Website . We are launching an on-line programme in July 2008, so that you can learn from the comfort of your own home. At just £25.00 including VAT and Certification, it's hard to beat!

UK Dirty Kitchen Hygiene Report - Is This for Real?

Today’s headline news that the UK is the dirtiest developed country in the world seemed to have shocked the nation, including Professor John Oxford of Bart's and the London Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry who was interviews on City Talk Radio this morning. Yet why should we be shocked? Having taught Food Hygiene and Safety training for over 10 years, I’m not at all surprised. Hygiene habits are often passed on by our parents... and "it (poor practice) never harmed them" is what I hear all the time! So it's not so surprising really...

Kitchen dishcloths are the biggest culprit - harbouring the E.coli bacteria amongst other things and are a major cause of food poisoning. There are many strains of E.coli, not all of which are harmful. The strain that causes most severe food poisoning is E. coli O157:H7

Every First Aider should know how to recognise Food Poisoning and how to deal with it. However, prevention is better than cure, so here are some tips to help prevent and deal with food poisoning.

Tips: Preventing Food Poisoning

1. Keep separate cloths for different jobs and make sure everyone knows what they are. For example I have colour-coded cloths:Pink - in the sink (for dishes only)Blue - for the loo and mildew (the dirty jobs)Cream - to keep the sides clean (to wipe down all surface areas in the kitchen).Because I have made this rhyme everyone (including my cleaner) remembers them.
2. Disinfect cloths every day. If you have a dishwasher, you can put them in there for the last cycle of the day.
3. Wipe down often-used surfaces like fridge/cupboard door handles on a regular basis.
4. Let dishes dry naturally rather than use a tea towel.

Recognising Food Poisoning

So, how does a First Aider recognise and treat Food Poisoning?
Recogniseing E. coli O157:H7 symptoms can be difficult but include severe bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps (usually within 24 hours of exposure and lasts from one to eight days), but sometimes the infection causes non-bloody diarrhea, a slight fever, mild fever, anemia or no symptoms at all. It is rare for the victim to vomit – although this is common in other types of food poisoning.

How to Treat Food Poisoning

Food poisoning can be extremely dangerous and indeed life threatening. In the worse case scenario different forms of food poisoning can result in cancer, alopecia (hair loss), chronic illness and disability (particularly in the most vulnerable; children and the elderly,) so early recognition and treatment is vital.

First Aid treatment is very simple:
Check for Danger, Response, Airway, and Breathing.
Treat for Shock – lay casualty down and raise legs, keep warm, reassure

The medical treatment for E. coli specifically is in the form of electrolytes (salts and minerals that form electrically charges particles - ions - in body fluids). Electrolytes are important because they control body fluid balance and are important for all major body reactions. There are some effective, pleasant-tasting replacement fluids available without prescription.

Dehydration can occur when more fluids are being lost than can be consumed, this is evident more so in the very young, the elderly, and people who are taking diuretics. To prevent dehydration, a doctor may give fluids intravenously.

Diarrhoea is the body’s way of removing the toxins from the body as quickly as possible. Taking any anti-diarrhoeal medication is usually avoided.

Road to Recovery:

People who experience food poisoning should modify their diet. Eating and drinking should be avoided whilst vomiting or diarrhoea is present (with the exception of drinking small quantities (sips) of water or other clear fluid).

Once vomiting and diarrhoea stop, they should eat bland, soft, easy-to-digest foods for two to three days e.g. the BRAT diet of Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast, all of which are easy to digest. Avoid products like milk, spicy food, alcohol and fresh fruit for a few days. These modifications are often all the treatment that is necessary.

Final Comment:

As I have mentioned though, prevention is better than cure - so take some action now and ditch those dirty cloths!