A pediatrician’s quick action saved his daughter from choking—here’s the skill he says all parents need

It happened in an instant. One second, Dr. Michael Milobsky’s young daughter was eating. The next, she wasn’t making a sound. For a parent, it’s the moment you hope you never face: your child choking.

But Milobsky—a pediatrician and father of seven—didn’t freeze. In his now-viral TikTok, he recalls springing into action, drawing on both his medical training and his instincts as a dad. Within seconds, he delivered abdominal thrusts, dislodged the blockage, and his daughter was breathing again.

That terrifying moment has turned into a teaching moment for millions of parents. And Milobsky’s message is clear: Choking emergencies are common, but with preparation, parents can be ready to save a life.

Why choking emergencies happen so often

Choking is one of the leading causes of injury and death among young children, especially those under five. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, kids are most at risk during meals—or any time small objects are within reach.

In his video, Milobsky says one of the best ways to prevent the most common causes of choking in young children is to make sure they never walk and eat at the same time. “When children eat, they should be sitting and still,” he says. “That’s where I have seen almost all choking events occur–including the one in my own home.”

The problem is that these moments escalate quickly. A child who is coughing and gagging may be able to clear their airway on their own. But if they suddenly go silent, it means their airway is fully blocked—and those next few seconds are critical.

Related: Toddler food safety: 9 choking hazards every parent should be aware of

The moves every parent should know

Milobsky stresses three lifesaving steps every parent can (and should) learn:

• Don’t blindly sweep your child’s mouth. Reaching into your child’s mouth (when you can’t see what you’re reaching for) can inadvertently push the object further into their windpipe. 
• Back blows: Deliver firm, deliberate blows between your child’s shoulder blades. As he explains, “hit them hard, as if you’re abusing them—that hard.”
• Abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich maneuver): For children over one, wrap your arms around their waist, make a fist just below the breastbone, and give quick, upward thrusts. Don’t get hung up on perfect placement—what matters is acting fast and forcefully.

For infants under one, the technique changes to a series of back blows and chest thrusts—something best practiced in a certified first aid class. And if your child becomes unconscious, start CPR immediately while calling for help.

Related: New study sounds alarm on water bead dangers—what parents need to know

Taking the next step

While TikTok can spread awareness, nothing replaces hands-on training. Parents can learn pediatric first aid and CPR through organizations like the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross, as well as at many local hospitals, libraries, and community centers.

Even a single class can give parents the confidence to respond in those first critical seconds—when it matters most.

Because while no parent wants to imagine a choking emergency, Milobsky’s story is a reminder: it can happen in an instant. But with knowledge and preparation, you can be the difference between tragedy and relief.