What to Do If My Child Swallows a Nickel?

Children put things in their mouths without thinking. They don't understand the dangers that small objects pose. Their penchant for tactile and oral exploration can be dangerous especially if small objects like coins are involved. If a child swallows a coin such as a nickel call a doctor.

Clear the Airway

• The most important thing to do if a child swallows a nickle is to make sure the child's airway is clear. Make sure the child is breathing. If the child is not breathing, call 911 and attempt to clear the air passage. If the object is within reach, extract it with a sweeping motion using a curved finger from behind the object so as not to push it further down the throat. If the object is not within reach, use the Heimlich maneuver to expel the coin and begin CPR when the airway is clear.

Lung X-Ray

• If the child is breathing, call the clinic and inform a doctor of the situation. Even if the child is breathing properly, the coin may have gone into a lung. If it is not properly taken care of it could cause damage. The child will need to have an X-ray to determine whether the coin is in the lungs.

Wait for the Nickle to Pass Through

• If the doctor determines that the nickle is not in the lungs, the coin will pass in one of the child's future bowel movements. Watch the child's bowl movements closely for a week, and if the coin does not pass bring the child in for another X-ray.