Staff at the Morden Community Thrift Store are reminding parents to keep their children close while shopping after a potentially serious incident.

Executive Secretary Nora Wiebe explains a child was recently playing alone in their toy department when they swallowed a piece of plastic.

Thankfully, Wiebe says a nurse was shopping nearby and heard the child struggling to breathe. The patron jumped into action and helped the child clear the obstruction.

"Children really need to have an adult with them," she says. "It only takes a split second, children move very quickly... sometimes even a minute or two unsupervised can be a problem."

Since the incident, Wiebe says they've added signage to remind parents and guardians to keep a closer eye on their kids.

"We love children, we love putting out toys for them, but we want to make sure it's a safe area for them," Wiebe adds.