ALTE: a lesson in Acute Life Threatening Events

If you are a mother, a carer, or grandparent of young children..make sure you get yourself first aid trained!

We had a couple of scary incidents with our little koala last week. Following an ambulance call, a couple of days in hospital, a ton of tests, no sleep and a crash course in baby resuscitation, I am now adament that a first aid certificate is a MUST.

There is nothing, and I mean NOTHING, more terrifying than watching your 3 month old baby stop breathing, go limp and drain of colour with a look of helpless terror in their eyes.

The first time, my husband was giving our bub Gripe Water, something we did every night to help with her wind and reflux. I was putting some of her clothes away and I heard her cough, this wasn’t uncommon, but I came out to see if she was ok, and it was clearly apparent she was not.

Seeing my baby lifeless and full of fear, all I could do was scream. My husband put her over his arm face down and tapped her firmly on the back while I got my wits together and called 000. Luckily she came around by the time the ambulance got here, by then I was barely consolable. Needless to say, we decided we would rather deal with her wind than see our baby choke again.

Three days later I’m burping her after a feed as usual, suddenly she goes from thrashing about over my shoulder to not moving at all. I pull her down from my shoulder and see the same look of helplessness on my precious baby’s face and her limp body drained of colour.

I scream for my husband who comes running and he again resuscitates our little girl.

Thank god for my husband!

This time, we rush her down to the local hospital, she is pushed through emergency and is seen immediately. Some six hours, multiple tests, and a long wait in the ER later, an ambulance finally arrives to take her up to the High Care Pediatric unit at the specialist hospital. They called it an ALTE, an Acute Life Threatening Event, and it’s not uncommon!

We’re admitted and after a short stay, luckily my little girl is alright. The fear, however, of this happening again, of seeing my girl in pain, of not having someone with me all the time, is all but paralysing.

The lesson here? This post isn’t intended to scare you but no one is immune to household accidents or freak occurrences. I’m just lucky my husband knew what to do!

Knowing first aid could save your babies life. Do not put it off.

Don’t wait until your babies older (many providers have courses you can take your baby with you). Please book in for a first aid course so that you know what to do in an emergency.

Have you done a first aid course, did you find it helpful? Please share in the comments below.

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39 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 29 Dec 2021
    9:58 am
Goodness me…..our kids sure do put us through a rollercoaster of emotions.

- - ella12 said
  - 27 Sep 2016
    12:37 pm
I’m glad your little bub was ok xo

- - june11 said
  - 10 Feb 2016
    5:30 pm
Quite a few years ago a friend of mine did a First Aid Course with Australian Red Cross on Friday nights. I don’t know whether or not they still run courses.
Initially he did it because being on the road so much as a sales representative he came across a few accidents and wasn’t confident because he had no training. The Police need to keep theirs up to date too. He helped at an accident and was sure the victim had internal bleeding because of the noises he could hear coming from him and he was also having difficulty breathing. The guy was conscious and was moving his arms and legs OK.The Police refused to allow him to place the guy on his side. The first thing the Ambulance officers said to the Police was why didn’t you place him on his side. He is choking on his own blood. As soon as the Amulance staff turned him and cleared his airway he started breathing a lot better. Our friend has mentioned it several times.

- - linaianna said
  - 10 Jan 2016
    5:55 pm
What a scare that would be

- - aprilb1 said
  - 10 Jan 2016
    3:05 pm
It’s so important and not just to do it once but everytime it’s due as it changes

- - crystalangela said
  - 10 Jan 2016
    2:43 pm
I agree first aid knowledge is vital.

- - mom140193 said
  - 03 Jan 2016
    9:35 pm
So important to do a first aid course and keep it updated. Its something so easy to forget, but knowing what to do and having the confidence to do it in an emergency can be lifesaving. I did my course through work, then 2 yrs later i ended up using what i’d learnt when a neighbours child had a severe asthma attack. Scariest thing ever but i went into ‘auto’ mode and remembered what i’d learnt during the course.

- - mom94125 said
  - 03 Dec 2015
    6:11 pm
yes i think that you are suppose to update your training every 2 years.

- - mom107723 said
  - 01 Dec 2015
    11:12 am
You cannot know enough in life saving.

- - mom94378 said
  - 17 Nov 2015
    8:00 am
Good lessons for us all.

- - mom94378 said
  - 08 Nov 2015
    8:18 pm
Great info for all of us, even for people without kids,

- - mom107723 said
  - 04 Nov 2015
    10:12 am
Great article, first aid is a must for all.

- - welshmummy said
  - 01 Nov 2015
    5:47 pm
This is all so true. My hubby as just done a first aid course and after reading this I think I should attend one too.

- - rovermum said
  - 28 Oct 2015
    11:33 am
I too thank God for my husband who is very highly skilled in First Aid. It’s one of those things I often talk about but have never done. I’m not alone there, either. Many people I know haven’t, but I think it’s time I got onto it. Thanks for the timely reminder.
- Looking for Mama Me replied
  
  28 Oct 2015 , 8:26 pm
  definitely! Its a life saving skill Glad this inspired you!
- - aliceou said
  - 28 Oct 2015
    8:02 am
It’s good to learn these skills.
- Looking for Mama Me replied
  
  28 Oct 2015 , 8:28 pm
  One of the most important skills you can have, First aid training is literally life saving
- - Missey Grace said
  - 28 Oct 2015
    12:49 am
Yes I’ve done a first aid course many years ago and also did the refresher course sponsored by work, it’s one of the best knowledge and skills I’ve ever learned that one day may just save a life.
- Looking for Mama Me replied
  
  28 Oct 2015 , 8:29 pm
  good on you for doing the course! Great that your employer sponsored a refresher as well!
- - mom101628 said
  - 27 Oct 2015
    9:26 pm
Yes I had done a first aid course after my first bub was born and did need it with my second bub. It’s terrifying seeing a helpless bub and one who is not breathing and rapidly turning blue. This reminds me it’s about time I did a refresher course – things have changed a lot over the past years!
- Looking for Mama Me replied
  
  28 Oct 2015 , 8:30 pm
  Gosh, so sorry you had to go through a traumatic incident with your bub as well. Its the worst feeling isn’t it! xo
- - pplover2013 said
  - 27 Oct 2015
    9:11 pm
I can not agree more! I completed a introduction to First Aid this week. As a stay at home mum to 2 very busy little men I thought it was irresponsible not to know the very basics. I am now able to save valuable time while waiting for emergency services to arrive. Touch wood I never have to use it!
- Looking for Mama Me replied
  
  28 Oct 2015 , 8:34 pm
  Great that you have done the course! Fingers crossed you never have to use it!
- - mom57808 said
  - 27 Oct 2015
    6:45 am
I DID THIS WITH MY DAUGHTER THREW SAINT JOHNS AMBULANCE, IT WAS THE BEST THING WE EVER DID
- Looking for Mama Me replied
  
  28 Oct 2015 , 8:37 pm
  St Johns is fabulous aren’t they!
- - 4littlemunchkins said
  - 26 Oct 2015
    9:52 pm
You are absolutely right a first aid certificate is a must with little children. So glad your bub is ok though, it must have been terrifying.
- Looking for Mama Me replied
  
  28 Oct 2015 , 8:41 pm
  It was the scariest thing ever! First aid training is a definite must, I think everyone should do one!