Choking  Prevention

Choking is a leading cause of injury and death among children, especially children 3 years of age or younger.  Two-thirds of choking victims are less than 1 year old. Choking occurs when objects get caught in the throat and block the airway. Food, toys and coins account for most of the choking-related events in young children, who put objects in their mouths as they explore new environments.

You can reduce the risks of choking by:

• Have children eat at the table, sitting down.  They should not run, walk, play or lie down with food in their mouth.

• Cut food for infants and young children into pieces smaller than half an inch in size.

• Don't chew and talk at the same time.

• Take small bites and chew your food well.

• Supervise your child.  Don't leave him alone while he's eating.

• Set a good example.

• Don't feed these foods to children younger than age 5:

          - Hot dogs - or at least cut into small pieces.

          - Nuts and seeds

          - Chunks of meat and cheese

          - whole grapes

          - Hard, gooey or sticky candy

          - Popcorn

          - Chunks of peanut butter

          - Raw vegetables

          - Raisins

          - Chewing gum

• Many household items can become choking hazards.  Keep items such as coins, marbles and toys with small parts away from young children.

• Many choking incidents occur when older children give dangerous items to younger children.

Even with precautions, choking can occur.  If your child is able to cough or make a sound, let the child get the food out.  If your child can't make a sound do the Heimlich maneuver.  To learn the Heimlich maneuver, visit the National Institutes of Health at www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000047.htm.

~Rainbow babies and children's Hospital

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement, “Prevention of Choking Among Children,” published in the March issue of Pediatrics (appearing online February 22), contains recommendations for government agencies, manufacturers, parents, teachers, child care workers and health care professionals to help prevent choking among children. Because the size, shape and consistency of certain toys and food increase the possibility of being a choking hazard, and because many of the prevention strategies currently in place to prevent choking on toys have not yet been implemented to prevent choking on food, the AAP recommends:

• Warning labels on foods that pose a high choking risk.
• A recall of food products that pose a significant choking hazard.
• The establishment of a nationwide food-related choking-incident surveillance and reporting system.
• Food manufacturers should design new food and redesign existing food to minimize choking risk.
• CPR and choking first aid should be taught to parents, teachers and child care providers.

~aap.org