Standard Five Pupil Chokes To Death On a Piece of Meat In Busia: Learn Simple Ways To Save A Life When Someone Chokes

Dr. Henry Heimlich was an American chest surgeon who, dismayed at the high number of people who die from chocking, in 1974 developed an easy to learn maneuver to help save lives. St John's Ambulance in Kenya has campaigned on their Facebook page for introduction of first aid lessons in Kenya's educational curriculum. With such a move, the number people skilled in first aid would increase in the community and help avert meaningless deaths such as that of this Kisoko boy in Buisa county.

A mulembe family in Kisoko, Busia county is mourning the untimely, unfortunate yet preventable death of a standard pupil at Kisoko Primary School. On Saturday evening,18th February 2017, 14 year old Mark Obada was sent by the mother to the kitchen to boil some meat only to later emerge running from the kitchen in distress with a piece of meat stuck in his throat. His younger brother 12 year old Alfred Barasa reports that they tried to assist his chocking brother to no avail. Speaking later, the late Mark's distraught elder brother, Ignitius Barasa, expressed his shock

"I cannot believe that my brother has just died like that. When I was called from my house, I came immediately and found him lying on the ground already dead. Blood was coming out of his mouth and nose."

It indeed is devastating to lose such  promise through preventable, needless death yet the easy to learn Heimlich's maneuver that does not require any special equipment can save lives. By the time of  Dr. Henry Heimlich death in December 17th 2017, this medical technique had saved an estimated 100,000 lives from chocking . 

As we embark on the process of overhauling the Kenyan education system towards one where skill learning will take precedence over mere cramming of facts; it is about time we took up St. John's Ambulance Kenya's call for first aid to be included in the curriculum. 

 

What is the Heimlich Maneuver?  

 

theguardian.com in its report on the death of Dr. Heimlich succinctly describes the life-saving maneuver for choking victims as:

"Rescuers using the procedure abruptly squeeze a victim’s abdomen, pushing in and above the navel with the fist to create a flow of air from the lungs. That flow of air then can push objects out of the windpipe and prevent suffocation.

 

 Heimlich Maneuver first Aid for Choking baby

 

 Heimlich Maneuver When The Choking victim is unconscious

 

 

 Heimlich maneuver in child (Over 5 years)

 

 

 Simplified Heimlich Maneuver In Infant (Less than 5 Years)

 

 

We condole with the family of the late Mark Obada. My his young soul rest in peace.

Additional Reporting: Busia County Media Center