don't think it can't happen to you

Proper CPR and heimlich is something all parents need to learn. In an emergency situation you only have 3 to 4 minutes. Every last second counts. I knew what to do and still lost my baby. I know personally I've always had a false since of comfort that I could help my children if they choke. After all how many times have I been able to grab something out of one of my kids mouth before anything bad could happen over the years? As I'm sure many if not all parents have experienced. I was still cautious with what my kids played with and what I bought as toys. I cut their food up, even for my 7 year old, and make them sit while eating too. I'm what most might call "over protective" with a lot of things. So when I say I had no idea just how dangerous balloons are I mean it. I knew they posed a potential choking hazard but I never knew just how hazardous. They are responsible for about 50% of choking fatalities. HALF OF ALL CHOKING FATALITIES CAUSED BY A SIMPLE BALLOON!! Believe it or not, balloons cause more childhood deaths than any other toy. And most of balloon related deaths are between the ages of 3 and 8 years. Like me I know many parents are clueless. Otherwise, balloon companies would be out of business. I didn't let my kids put them in their mouth, other than to blow them up, and I NEVER let my babies play with them even being especially careful while my 2 year old played water balloons with his older brothers. Unfortunately, just having them around is too much risk in and of itself. In many cases there is simply not enough time to react to a balloon going in to your childs mouth before its too late. It's not as simple as watching them with the balloons because it can and does happen EXTREMELY fast. They are light weight and sticky. A deep breath in ,which who doesn't take before blowing a balloon up, is all it takes to send it flying down your airway. My older children were playing with water balloons outside for a few days before the morning of the day that broke us all. The morning of May 31, 2018 started no different than any other day. I fed baby Justin, changed him, and then set him on the living room floor to play. I noticed a balloon on the floor, which was quickly thrown away. I failed to notice another balloon. My 9 month old ,while playing, found the balloon and ,as all babies do, stuck the new object in his mouth. I didn't see him put it in his mouth but I looked at him and saw he was gagging so I went to him ,in a hurry, hoping to retrieve whatever it was but it was too late. The action of gagging and then inhaling caused the balloon to go straight down his airway (which is only about as big around as a straw at his age.) Not even a second after he inhaled his lips went blue. I immediately did the heimlich. Five thrusts to the back. Nothing. I turned him over and laid him on the floor as I grabbed my phone to call 911. To my misfortune, and my precious baby's, I was placed on an immediate hold without being able to speak to anyone. I can't honestly say the amount of time I waited but in a situation where every second counts it could've been the difference between life and death. At this point I started CPR. Finally, an answer where I had to stop and give information and be tranfered to an EMT. It took them about 3 minutes to get to him. All the while I'm doing CPR but it was useless. The balloon had completely blocked his airway. When EMT arrived they were unable to establish an airway. It took them roughly 15 minutes to get the balloon out. By that time my baby had gone in to cardiac arrest. They worked on him for 30 minutes at the hospital but it was too late. All because of a stupid balloon. It's not worth the enormous risk for a few minutes of fun. It's not worth the horrible guilt that you will feel if something happens to your child. Now all we have left are memories, pictures, and a few of his belongings. There is no pain greater than that of a grieving parent.