Three-year-old saved from choking Three-year-old saved from choking (March 17, 2004)

By Jonas Raab
Special to the Almanac

Three-year-old Jack Ingrouille was saved from choking on a grape last week through the combined efforts of his mother, police and fire personnel, and paramedics.

Jack, who is visiting Menlo Park with his mother and sisters from Singapore, was having his lunch March 9 when he began to act strangely, said his mother Martina.

"A typical three-year-old, he was playing with his food," she said, "and then I heard a sharp cry. I thought he had bitten his tongue, but it looked like he was trying to pull something out of his mouth."

Ms. Ingrouille said she knew he was choking. "I was so scared. He was turning purple and fell unconscious," she said, "I gave the Heimlich [maneuver] and nothing came out. It doesn't matter how many CPR classes you take, when it's your kid, you freeze."

She dialed 9-1-1 and the operator gave her instructions for continuing CPR. She was administering mouth-to-mouth when Officer Glen Raggio of the Menlo Park Police Department arrived at the scene.

Mr. Raggio continued performing mouth-to-mouth and chest compressions until paramedics arrived and firefighter Randy Kelly from the Menlo Park Fire Protection District began using forcepts, suction and a scope in an attempt to dislodge the grape, said fire Division Chief Harold Schapelhouman.

Jack began labored breathing and was rushed to Stanford Hospital while paramedics continued aggressive CPR. Jack's condition continued to improve and he was speaking with his mother later that night.

She said he is doing extremely well.

"I never will eat grapes again," Jack said to his mother.

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