Parents’ Fast Thinking Saves Son From Suffocation, Highlights Need for Infant Frist Aid Knowlege
Amsterdam, Netherlands – October 2, 2025 – A Dutch couple experienced every parent’s nightmare this week when their eldest son began to choke, but their swift action, informed by prior first aid training, prevented a tragic outcome. The incident underscores the critical importance of equipping parents and caregivers with the skills to respond to infant emergencies.
The parents, who wish to remain anonymous, discovered their son struggling to breathe after a meal on September 30, 2025, at approximately 6:00 PM CEST. recognizing the signs of choking – inability to cry or cough, bluish skin tone – they instantly implemented the back blows and abdominal thrusts they had learned in a certified infant first aid course. After several attempts, they successfully dislodged the obstruction, restoring their son’s breathing. “You hope to never have to use it,” the mother stated, “but knowing what to do, and being able to do it, is an incredible relief.”
this incident arrives amidst growing awareness of accidental choking as a leading cause of injury and death in infants and young children. According to the dutch Safety Board, approximately 30 children under the age of five are hospitalized annually in the Netherlands due to choking incidents. While the vast majority recover, some cases result in long-term neurological damage or fatality. Experts emphasize that even a short period of oxygen deprivation can have devastating consequences for a developing brain.
the parents’ preparedness highlights a gap in widespread access to infant first aid training.While some hospitals and community centers offer courses, they are not universally available or mandatory for new parents. Advocates are calling for increased funding and accessibility to ensure more families are equipped with the life-saving knowledge demonstrated this week in Amsterdam. Further facts on infant first aid courses can be found through the Dutch Red Cross (https://www.rodekruis.nl/) and local healthcare providers.
