After an incident last year where my niece fell while running around with a lollipop in her mouth (and actually punctured a hole at the back of her throat!) these sweets are banned in our house.
Disclaimer: My niece was fine in the end, but still – the fright of the whole ordeal was enough to make me swear off lollipops for life.
For a dad-of-two from Plymouth in the UK, a fun night last autumn almost turned into a real-life tragedy when his little boy started choking after the lollipop he was eating came loose from the stick, and got stuck in his throat.
Brett Cole took to Facebook to describe the ordeal, and also strongly calls for the sweet to be banned from stores, fearing this may well happen to other families. Explaining that they normally don't allow lollipops in their house, this was a once-off treat after the kids had come back in with their Halloween haul last October.
"So today it happened, we don’t usually buy the kids' lolly’s but after trick or treating they had some in their pots. The end came off and Bobby started choking, this was easily the worst experience of my life."
He goes on to explain how his wife called out to him for help from the other room, but that, at first, nothing helped and his little boy just went 'floppy' in his arms.
"I hit him so hard on the back to no effect. He passed out and he went floppy. Deanna Cole this morning has saved Bobby's life. She gave him the Heimlich manoeuvre and after several thrusts, it came out with sick and blood."Please guys take this from me ban these lollies. I never post on Facebook but please take my advice. We have all cried our eyes out but Bobby is ok, he may not have been."Bobby is five and I stupidly thought this was old enough. I won’t make that mistake again, make sure you don’t!"
(Picture: Brett Cole /SWNS.COM)
Thankfully, after a visit to the hospital and a good night's sleep, little Bobby was good as gold again, but still – can you imagine the fright?
Do YOU give your children lollipops? Let us know in the comments or tweet us at @herfamilydotie
