Who was Alexandra Hope? Tennessee girl, 7, dies after suffocating on a popped birthday balloon at her home
CLINTON, TENNESSEE: A seven-year-old girl's mother has recalled the horrifying moment when she witnessed her young daughter suffocate on a popped birthday balloon at her home earlier this month.
Alexandra Hope was popping her birthday balloons in the city of Clinton in Tennessee, on Sunday, October 1, when she choked on a balloon.
Hope's mother, Channa Kelly went to the living room but when she came back, she discovered her daughter facedown with one popped balloon over her head.
What did Alexandra Hope's mother say?
"I want people to know, so they can be aware. That’s what took my baby, it was her birthday balloon. It’s hard to comprehend. She was wonderful, so vivacious, independent, she loved crafts, swimming — oh, she was a little fish", the grieving mother said according to The Mirror.
Clinton police are investigating the incident, local media stated.
The US Consumer Protection Safety issued a warning
"Because of the danger of suffocation, the CPSC recommends that parents and guardians do not allow children under the age of eight to play with uninflated balloons without supervision", the US Consumer Protection Safety issued a warning regarding popped balloons.
"The CPSC does not believe that a completely inflated balloon presents a hazard to young children. If the balloon breaks, however, CPSC recommends that parents immediately collect the pieces of the broken balloon and dispose of them out of the reach of young children.”
A five-year-old boy died the same way last July
According to the reports of The Daily Record, a five-year-old boy died in the Intensive Care Unit six days following his tragic balloon accident last July.
Karlton Donaghey suffocated while trying to climb inside his large helium dinosaur inflatable that he had gotten at a fair in Newcastle.
The child's mother Lisa Donaghey, discovered her son on the floor of their home with the balloon over his head and neck.
"When I came in he was on the floor with the balloon over his head and his neck," she said, adding "It was a dinosaur balloon which was the same size as him. I think he's put himself in the balloon to be a dinosaur to go outside and surprise his nieces.
Karlon needed emergency medical attention as he had inhaled too much helium. He was given emergency CPR from medics on the scene before being airlifted to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary.
The tragic incident took place on a humid day when Lisa and her three other children were spending time in the garden.
Karlton said he needed to use the bathroom, so he stepped inside. Lisa eventually went to check on him after he was in there for some time.
"I pulled the balloon off him and I screamed. I think I carried him to the patio door. As a mother, I knew he was gone, he was unresponsive. He had his eyes wide open and he was pale," said the grieving mother.