Choking awareness highlighted by St Leonards-on-Sea woman in new campaign
St John Ambulance urges first aid learning during Save a Life September
St John Ambulance is launching a new campaign to tell peopl that choking can become life-threatening in mere minutes, and a 54-year-old woman from St Leonards-on-Sea in East Sussex is sharing her story.
Leslie Sinoway faced a terrifying moment when a fish bone lodged in her throat while dining, with the charity saying it reminds us all of the importance of knowing how to respond to choking emergencies.
Her friend, Lucy Rhoades, quickly recognised the gravity of the situation, delivering back blows that ultimately saved Ms Sinoway's life by dislodging the obstruction.
Ms Sinoway described her experience: "I ordered the sea bass. We were all chatting when, all of a sudden, I felt something get caught in my throat and I started coughing."
As her ability to breathe became compromised, panic set in: "I got up and kept coughing, becoming more and more scared."
Fortunately, Ms Rhoades was there to help, "Lucy noticed and got up. She asked me if I was OK and I gestured that I wasn’t. That’s when she started giving me firm back blows. A fish bone flew out."
Highlighting the incident's seriousness, Ms Sinoway recalled, "I genuinely thought I was going to die. It was horrible. If anyone would stay calm in a crisis, it would be Lucy."
St John Ambulance’s latest research reveals that more than a quarter of people in the South East do not realise that choking can become life-threatening without prompt first aid.
Only 41% feel confident administering back blows to assist a choking person, while just 40% know how to provide an abdominal thrust, formerly the Heimlich Manoeuvre.
During Save a Life September, St John Ambulance seeks to bridge this knowledge gap by educating 500,000 individuals in life-saving skills through demonstrations and online resources.
Jordan Davison, St John Ambulance’s community education partner, said: "Choking is often dismissed as a minor incident, but the consequences can be devastating."
He urged the public to seize the opportunity to learn essential skills, stating, "This September, we’re urging people to take a few minutes to learn these essential first aid skills."