East Jerusalem Toddler Dies from Choking as MDA Urges First Aid Awareness
An 18-month-old toddler from East Jerusalem tragically died from choking on Monday morning. Following the incident, MDA paramedic experts reiterate essential life-saving first aid instructions for infants.
Tragedy in East Jerusalem: Toddler Dies from Choking
A tragic incident occurred on Monday morning in East Jerusalem, where 18-month-old Karam Majd Jamal Halasa died from choking, suspected to be caused by swallowing a seed. Family members and relatives are in deep mourning following the sudden loss.
"The family is in deep mourning. Despite all efforts to save the toddler's life, they could not prevent his death," close associates of the family shared. "We stand by the family in this difficult and painful hour. Karam was a special child, loved by everyone. The family used to play and laugh with him until the disaster struck, turning their lives into a tragedy."
MDA Expert Explains Life-Saving Choking Prevention
Following the heartbreaking event, safety guidelines and emergency protocols for infant choking have been brought back into focus. In previous guidance provided to the media, Yisrael Weingarten, chief instructor at the MDA (Magen David Adom) paramedic school, explained the critical steps needed to save children from choking in emergency situations.
"Choking is a very, very solvable cause in most situations if we know how to perform a few basic actions," Weingarten said. "The first basic action we are talking about is calling 101. First and foremost, call for help."
According to Weingarten, the second step is to assess whether the child is conscious. If the child is responsive, do not give them anything to drink or try to push objects into their mouth. Allow the child to cough, as the lungs always retain spare air that can act as pressure to help expel a foreign body.
Essential First Aid Steps for Infants
For infants experiencing airway obstruction, specific physical maneuvers must be applied carefully:
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Place the baby facedown along your forearm, supporting the head and jaw securely.
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Deliver five firm back blows between the infant's shoulder blades using the heel of your hand.
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Turn the infant onto a firm surface, placing two fingers in the center of the chest just below the nipple line, and perform five chest compressions.
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Check the oral cavity carefully. If the foreign object is visible, gently sweep it out using a pinky finger.
Experts strongly warn against blindly sticking fingers into a child's mouth to fish for an object, as this can push the foreign body deeper and worsen the obstruction.
