Toddler Fights for Life After Swallowing a Rock While Playing at Daycare

A two-year-old child is fighting for his life after swallowing a rock at a daycare. Ryker Slater was playing at daycare one moment; the next, he was fighting for his life, said his parents, Caleb and Savannah Slater.

According to the parents, medical personnel performed CPR when they arrived at daycare. The doctors told the parents that their son went into cardiac arrest after swallowing the rock, causing his heart to stop for four minutes. Chattanooga Daily News reported that the baby's heart stopped the second time for eight minutes, and then medics took him to the hospital.

Critical Hours

According to the boy's father, Caleb Slater, he raced to the daycare as fast as possible. They were already in Cox South when the toddler's heart stopped again for eight minutes.

The two-year-old Ryker was taken to St. Louis Children's Hospital, as it is one of the only hospitals in Missouri equipped to remove such an object. Doctors told the family that the next 72 hours would be most crucial.

According to Caleb, their primary concern, for now, is the boy's brains and lungs as the other vital organs are doing "okay."

Signs of improvement

As per Fox19, doctors will be conducting neurological tests in the coming weeks. The boy will remain on a ventilator until his lung is healed and his brain swelling is reduced. The family said that little Ryker has been showing minor signs of improvement. His mother, Savannah, said that the baby had already moved his toes, and he had frowned.

Ryker is fortunate that all the employees at his daycare were trained in CPR. The Slaters said it is crucial to choose the right persons to watch over the children, and the parents believed that the daycare staff did everything to save little Ryker's life.

Read Also: Button Batteries: 17-Month-old Baby Hugh Dies of Poisoning, Parents Call For Its Ban in Scotland.

Everyday Foreign Objects that Babies Swallow

The Children's Colorado reports that more than 80,000 kids swallow things that are not food. According to Dr. Robert Kramer, a pediatric gastroenterologist at the Colorado Children's Hospital, the center removes about 200 foreign objects per year. While most of these kids will be fine, some cases can be severe and deadly.

Kramer noted the foreign objects that are dangerous when swallowed and what to do in case the child eats them:

Button batteries

Button batteries may seem innocuous, but when these batteries get stuck in the esophagus, the charge causes a chemical burn, causing an erosion in the tissue. Even if the batteries have been removed, fatal bleeding in the esophageal wall can still occur even after three weeks after the battery removal. Kramer warns that button battery ingestions have been increasing since 2019. He suspects it may be because of the pandemic, and kids spend more time at home.

If your child swallows a battery, call the emergency department or 911. Health experts also recommend giving their child about two teaspoons of honey every 10 minutes.

Detergent pods and house cleaners

Detergents and household cleaners can also cause chemical burns to the esophagus, and the scarring can cause permanent narrowing of the esophagus.

If the child has swallowed detergent pods, experts recommend calling Poison Control at 800-222-1222.

Coins

Coins usually make it into the stomach without emergencies. In some cases, however, when coins get stuck in the esophagus, it needs to be removed within 24 hours. If the child is drooling, vomiting, or refusing to eat or drink, health experts recommend heading straight to emergency rooms.

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