Top choking hazards for children

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Top choking hazards for children

The top choking hazards for children, both food and non-food items.

Stick gum is usually okay for older children but gumballs and other hard candy can pose a choking threat. Also, gum or candy in any form should not be consumed while engaging in an activity like sports or while being driven in a car, where sudden movement could cause one to swallow the item involuntarily.

Any small, round food item can be a choking hazard, even something as healthy as grapes. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children younger than four years old should not be given foods like this unless there is a way to safely chop them into bite-size pieces. Of course, that would be a bit difficult to do with grapes.

According to a 2001 study conducted by the CDC, 31% of nonfatal choking episodes treated in emergency departments were associated with nonfood objects, such as small toys like marbles. Closely supervise children playing with such items.

Balloons are toys that pose multiple safety hazards and are one of the leading causes of asphyxiation in children. A child attempting to blow a balloon up may accidentally inhale and get the balloon stuck in his throat. If a balloon breaks, a curious child may put pieces of it in his/her mouth. And most balloons are attached to a string, which also poses a choking hazard. Always supervise young children when they are around balloons.

According to a 2001 CDC study, candy was associated with 19% of all choking-related emergency department visits by children ages 14 years or younger; 65% were related to hard candy. Not only do the round shapes pose a significant choking hazard, if a child should fall with a lollipop in his mouth, the stick could damage his mouth. Reserve these treats for older children and make sure they are engaging in a non-physical activity at the time, such as watching television or playing a board game.

Popcorn can be a choking hazard for multiple reasons. The small popped kernels are usually eaten by the handful instead of individually, and when consumed in a dark movie theater, there's the added risk of not being able to see and being distracted while eating.

While health experts encourage both children and adults to eat multiple servings of fresh fruit daily, for young children, hard round fruits should be sliced into more manageable pieces to avoid choking hazards.

Raw carrots are one of the top choking hazards for children. Keep in mind that children's teeth are just developing and may not be able to handle the grinding effort needed to chew up a carrot stick properly. Parents can chop carrots into bite size pieces, or cook them to make them softer and easier to chew.

Child safety experts advise both children and adults to refrain from eating spoonfuls of peanut butter. The sticky substance can stick to the windpipe and cause death, even in adults. So don't gamble with your family's health, instead experts recommend spreading a thin layer of peanut butter on a cracker or small piece of bread.

Of the 141 choking deaths in kids in 2006, 61 were food-related. Doctors say high-risk foods such as hot dogs should be cut into pea-sized pieces to reduce the risk of choking. The American Academy of Pediatrics wants the food industry to avoid shapes and sizes that pose choking risks and is trying to get the FDA involved in their campaign.

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Stick gum is usually okay for older children but gumballs and other hard candy can pose a choking threat. Also, gum or candy in any form should not be consumed while engaging in an activity like sports or while being driven in a car, where sudden movement could cause one to swallow the item involuntarily.