Our nanny choked at our house today.

[Anonymous]

Our nanny (mid-20s) choked while having lunch with our toddler twins today. We usually work outside the home but thank god my husband had a migraine today and called in or today could have gone very differently.

She was eating a grape when she started choking. The same grapes she served our toddlers but instead of being cut into fours she ate one whole and choked. We just watched the security camera facing the kitchen and you can literally see the panic set in and she grasps her hands around her neck and stands up trying to cough. She tried to perform the Heimlich on herself with our chair but failed. That’s when she walks out of frame of the camera.

She walked upstairs into our bedroom and banged on the door where my husband said he opened the door to her purple faced and about to pass out. Thankfully we trained for this before we had kids, but never did he expect to perform the Heimlich on an adult. Let alone our nanny. It came out fairly quickly he said and she was ok. Crying but ok. He rushed downstairs where she had left our twins (14 months old) in the high chair where they were eating like nothing happened.

We let her go home early and said maybe she should go to urgent care. Not sure if she did.

I’m glad everything is ok but honestly it makes me scared to have her back here tomorrow. What if DH wasn’t here? What would have happened to my kids? What if they choker? Fell? How can we prevent this again?

[Anonymous]

So you’ll never be leaving your kids with a grandparent, aunt/uncle, neighbor, cousin, or even one parent at home without the other, because this literally could happen to anyone. Do you get that YOU could choke while DH is playing golf?

Got it.

[Anonymous]

Try to have someone WFH as much as you can, as a backup/contingency. We always did this, even before COVID. Critical redundancy.

[Anonymous]

It happens. You can’t prevent everything. Your kids will grow up paranoid.

Glad she is ok.

[Anonymous]

She will probably be scared while eating for some time to come. I have nearly choked while alone and was able to dislodge it using a chair. Maybe pay for cpr/choking/first aid training for her. That's where I learned to unchoke myself.

[Anonymous]

If I were your nanny I’d quit. You obviously don’t give two shits about her. I can’t believe you started this thread.

[Anonymous]

How can you prevent it again? By not having grapes, popcorn, or hot dogs - the main foods people choke on - in your house.

Anyone can choke. Your kids were fine in the high chair. YOU could have choked on a grape while home alone with your kids - would you fire yourself from being a parent? Of course not. Shit happens. She doesn't need to go to the ER - even if your husband broke a rib, there's nothing that can be done for it.

[Anonymous]

Applesauce & mashed potatoes. Peas.

[Anonymous]

Everyone handled this situation well: the nanny knew to get help, your hero DH saved the day (and was fortunately home), and your babies thankfully stayed blissfully unaware. This is a win, it just doesn’t feel like one at the moment due to stress and shock. I’m glad everyone is ok.

Maybe a new house “rule” of cut-up grapes for everyone (or no grapes when only one adult is present) would help ease concerns moving forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I were your nanny I’d quit. You obviously don’t give two shits about her. I can’t believe you started this thread.

+1

[Anonymous]

Wow. You are such a nightmare. Your nanny could have died and you're only concerned about what would have happened to your kids.

They would have been fine. Your nanny would have been dead.

[Anonymous]

OP you are a selfish, horrid human. Just vile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She will probably be scared while eating for some time to come. I have nearly choked while alone and was able to dislodge it using a chair. Maybe pay for cpr/choking/first aid training for her. That's where I learned to unchoke myself.

She has. I’ve seen her certificate. She’s gone through training 3 times since she was 17. That’s what’s scary. We didn’t hire someone off the streets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She will probably be scared while eating for some time to come. I have nearly choked while alone and was able to dislodge it using a chair. Maybe pay for cpr/choking/first aid training for her. That's where I learned to unchoke myself.

She has. I’ve seen her certificate. She’s gone through training 3 times since she was 17. That’s what’s scary. We didn’t hire someone off the streets.

So only people “on the streets” accidentally choke? And are then terrified, about to pass out, and seek immediate help? Good to know.

[Anonymous]

The same thing could happen to you or your DH while you’re home alone with the kids.

One thing that is good to know generally is whether your locality has text-to-911 enabled and how to do it. If you have an emergency by yourself where you cannot speak, knowing how to text to 911 can be invaluable. If I ever started truly choking while home alone, that is the first thing I would do, before even trying to heimlich myself, to get ambulance moving asap. If I’ve managed to dislodge whatever I’m choking on before they arrive, so be it.