Mum issues urgent Halloween warning to parents after daughter almost died eating popular sweet
A mum has issued an urgent Halloween warning to parents after her daughter almost died eating a popular sweet.
Natasha Middleton took her seven-year-old daughter, Maisie Brackley, to the shops for a treat after doing well at school on Tuesday (15 October).
Maisie had the sweet, a Dib-Dab lollipop, for 'less than two minutes' before her mum claimed it got 'lodged' in the back of her throat.
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Recalling the traumatic incident, Natasha, a graphic designer who lives in Evesham, Worcestershire, explained: "We got home and unpacked the shopping. I gave her the Dip Dab and she had it in her mouth for less than two minutes.
"All of a sudden it came off the stick, the red top of the Dip Dab, and lodged in the back of her throat.
"I saw my daughter go blue. I was seeing her eyes looking at me going, 'mum, help'."
After turning 'blue' and becoming 'lifeless' for 15 seconds, her dad Daniel Brackley, 32, was forced to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre to try to dislodge the sweet before the parents rushed her to hospital.
The schoolgirl was rushed to hospital where doctors confirmed her vital organs had returned to normal and she was free to go home but was left with bruises on her chest and back from the Heimlich manoeuvre.
The lollipop is reportedly still lodged in Maisie's throat and she'll have to return for tests to ensure it doesn't get infected.
"Thankfully because she was breathing there was nothing she could do for us," the mum carried on.
"They did warn us she's going to be very sore. She's now on rest.
"It's in her body still, we can't get it out. It's in her body so she's going to have to pass that at some point. There's a risk of infection."
She explained that 'for four hours', Maisie could still feel the visible 'bulge in her throat'.
"It's absolutely horrifying," Natasha shared, adding that her daughter was 'very sore at the moment' as she awaits an X-ray and an MRI.
"The most horrible thing is whether she's got any broken bones because of the force you have to use to dislodge something," she said
"I'm very, very grateful that my daughter's still alive."
The mum-of-three, who admitted she feels 'major mum guilt' over the incident,
has now banned any lollipops in her household and shared a post on Facebook urging others to 'please be careful what sweets and candy you are giving out or offering this festive and spooky season'.
"It's the most harrowing and unpleasant experience to ever go through and horrifying. It's literally like being in a nightmare right there and then," she explained.
Natasha continued: "We have completely banned lollipops in our house. About two or three hours after this happened she made us promise we would never have lollipops in this house again.
"The Dip Dab lolly is the size of a 2p coin. They're really thin and you open it, lick it and dip it in sherbet.
"We never thought it was going to happen to us at all. I feel really mad at myself. I've got major mum guilt over it.
"I'll be like that for the rest of her life. That treat nearly cost my daughter's life."
Sharing a warning to fellow parents with trick or treating this Halloween, she urged: "People are going to be giving these sweets over Halloween. You can't stop that at the end of the day.
"You can't stop that at the end of the day but be vigilant about the sweets you're giving out, especially with young children.
"My advice to parents is to always check what's in their pumpkin bag or what they're carrying. Please look and be safe about what sweets you are giving children."
She added: "Never allow a child to start eating the sweets while they're out and about. Wait until you get home and double check those sweets.
"If you're not comfortable with those sweets and have any second thoughts, throw them away."
As well as being cautious about sweet consumption, Natasha has since encouraged families to learn basic first aid skills to help their children in times of emergency.
Natasha said: "Thankfully we've been on a paediatric first aid course because we've got a baby now. So many parents have not done basic first aid.
"Nobody knows where you can get basic information from the NHS or St John's ambulance.
"Parents re-reading the first aid basics on the NHS, anything like that and knowing what to do in this circumstance.
"That's the message I want to get out is please don't think that this will never happen to you. We were one of these people."
Valeo Confectionary, the parent company of Barratt who make the Dip Dab lolly, declined to comment.
Rhiannon Ingle