Recognize and Remove Choking Hazards from Your Home

Protect Young Children from a Frightening Risk!

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 17,000 infants and children are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year for chokingrelated incidents, and more than 80 percent of these occur in children under five. Follow the safeguards below to protect your children by greatly reducing the risk of choking incidents in your home.

Choking occurs when food or small objects get caught in the throat or block the airway, preventing oxygen from traveling to the lungs and the brain. All children are susceptible to choking, but children under five are the most at risk due to smaller airways, less ability to chew and greater tendency to put objects in their mouths. Here are some safe practices parents can adopt to greatly reduce the risk of choking among children ages 1‐5:

#1: Stay Alert During Snacks and Mealtimes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), food is the number one cause of choking, accounting for approximately sixty percent of all choking incidents among children. Young children have a greater tendency to swallow foods whole rather than chewing them first, so it is important to watch what they eat and how they eat at all times.

  • Place children in a secure high chair or booster seat with a table surface that provides support while eating.
  • Cut food into pea‐sized bites. This is especially important with grapes and hotdogs, as their skins can easily cover and block children’s small airways.
  • Teach children to chew well before swallowing and always give them a beverage with meals so that food goes down more easily.
  • Keep portions small to prevent children from stuffing too much food in their mouths at one time.
  • To prevent them from accidentally inhaling a piece of food, do not allow children to play, talk or laugh with food in their mouth . And never let them eat while they are crying.
  • Remove all seeds from fruits prior to serving.
  • Avoid foods with bones and any food that can not be cut into small pieces, such as peanuts, popcorn, or hard or gooey candies.
  • Always spread peanut butter thinly on bread or crackers. Never serve peanut butter by the spoonful—a chunk can easily block your child’s windpipe.
  • Never let children eat while in a moving vehicle. A sudden jolt from a bump or a pothole could trigger a choking incident.

#2: Scan your home regularly for potential hazards 

Keeping your child’s environment free of choking hazards is so important for their safety. Anything small enough to fit in your child’s mouth is a potential choking hazard, so be sure to check floors, coffee tables and also under cushions and furniture regularly for dropped or misplaced items. Some of the most common non‐food choking hazards found in the home include:

  • Small Button‐type Batteries
  • Coins
  • Pen Caps
  • Earrings
  • Latex Balloons
  • Marbles

  • Toys w/Small Parts
  • Small Balls
  • Buttons
  • Beads
  • Paper Clips
  • Band‐Aids
    •  

    #3: Carefully examine all toys in the household. 

    According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), choking is the leading cause of toy‐related deaths to young children. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s label to confirm that the toy is appropriate for your child’s age, and be on the lookout for any small parts that could break off, such as eyes and noses of stuffed animals and dolls. It is also important to teach older children to keep their toys away from younger siblings—especially toys with marbles or small balls (under 1.75 inches in diameter).

    #4: Know When To— and When Not To— Start First Aid. 

    Rapid rescue for choking can save a life, but you need to know when it is appropriate to administer First Aid and when you should hold off. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, you SHOULD begin administering First Aid for choking if your child: 

    • Cannot breathe at all (chest is not moving up and down).
    • Cannot cough, talk or make a normal voice sound.
    • Is found unconscious. 

    DO NOT start First Aid for choking if your child:

    • Can breathe, cry, talk, or make a normal voice sound. •
    • Can cough sputter, or move air at all. The child’s normal reflexes are working to clear his/her airway. 

    If your child is unconscious or stops breathing, be sure someone calls 911 as soon as possible, within the first minute of starting rescue efforts. 

    #5: Take a Certified First‐Aid Course. 

    All parents should consider taking a certified training course to learn the correct way to perform CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver. Local courses are available through the American Red Cross (1‐800‐RED‐CROSS), the American Heart Association (1‐800‐AHA‐USA1), and hospitals and health organizations throughout the state. 

     

    Caution

    When to Call the Doctor

    All infants, children and adolescents who have a choking incident should see a doctor, since complications can occur even if the object causing the choking is successfully expelled.

     

    For more information on how to recognize and remove choking hazards from your home and to register for Free Safety Alerts, visit Montlick.com or HelpKeepKidsSafe.org and click on: Family Safety and Legal Tips.

     

    Recognize and Remove Choking Hazards from Your Home is presented by Georgia Accident Attorneys, Montlick & Associates.

    For over 23 years, Montlick & Associates, Georgia Accident Attorneys, has been providing parents with important information to help keep your family safe. That's why we created the guide above with safe practices you can adopt to greatly reduce the risk of choking among children. At Montlick & Associates, we want to help you recognize the many choking hazards in your home to help prevent injuries and keep your children safe!