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Story time:

I was babysitting some kids today. Lunch time. Kid X starts crying. I come up to him and say "what's wrong buddy?" X grabs his throat with both hands - the universal sign of choking (I doubt he knows this, so it's kinda interesting that that was his natural response).

"Oh shit" I think. Panicking, to the other adults I say "I think he's fucking choking." "Do I start the Heimlich?" I think. (I'm certified CPR/first aid). I don't. I look desperately at the others. Other than help X to his feet, I do nothing. I froze.

Luckily, the food was able to pass down his esophagus when he stood up. He was fine, just a little shaken up.

I froze, and I feel pathetic. Useless. A shame to the name Aragorn. In general, I'm terrible under pressure. Never faced a situation like this, though.

What do?

Story time: I was babysitting some kids today. Lunch time. Kid X starts crying. I come up to him and say "what's wrong buddy?" X grabs his throat with both hands - the universal sign of choking (I doubt he knows this, so it's kinda interesting that that was his natural response). "Oh shit" I think. Panicking, to the other adults I say "I think he's fucking choking." "Do I start the Heimlich?" I think. (I'm certified CPR/first aid). I don't. I look desperately at the others. Other than help X to his feet, I do nothing. I froze. Luckily, the food was able to pass down his esophagus when he stood up. He was fine, just a little shaken up. I froze, and I feel pathetic. Useless. A shame to the name Aragorn. In general, I'm terrible under pressure. Never faced a situation like this, though. What do?

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[–] [deleted] • 2 pts

A lot of people are useless in emergency situations. Training is one way to get over that hurdle. Face emergency situations in a controlled setting, over and over. Eventually you will be able to react and control your responses. Or not, in which case step aside. Or just freeze.

[–] • 2 pts

For my certification we only practiced the Heimlich on each other for 10 minutes. Certification standard might be too low. For me, at least.