Myleene Klass has called for compulsory first aid training in schools after her young daughter choked on a plastic toy. The TV and radio presenter, 41, saved her then one-year-old Hero when she swallowed a glow-in-the-dark star, and later rescued her eldest daughter Ava, then 10, from choking on calamari during a family meal.
Klass, who learned first aid from television, said: 'Doing a first aid course with my family is so important because I’ve had to use what I’ve learnt a number of times. Until first aid is officially taught in schools I want to know that my children are armed with the knowledge and confidence that they could save a life if called upon to do so.'
She arranged for St John Ambulance volunteers to teach her family life-saving skills, including how to help a choking person, place someone in the recovery position, and perform CPR on adults and babies. Klass shared the session on Instagram to encourage others to learn first aid.
The day after the training, Klass and her daughters helped an elderly woman who collapsed on a train. 'Hero had her first aid bits in her bag. Maybe we’re more aware because of the course. Either way, so proud of my little, kind-hearted heroes,' she said.
St John Ambulance advises that in a choking emergency, you should encourage the person to cough and remove any obvious obstruction from their mouth. If coughing fails, give five sharp back blows.
