Tips For Preventing Choking And Death in Children

Choking is the fourth leading cause of death in children under the age of 5. At least one child dies from choking every 5 days in the US and more than 10,000 children are taken to the hospital emergency room because of food-related choking injuries. Choking injuries and deaths are preventable. Whether you are a parent, caregiver, grandparent, day care worker, school personal or babysitter, keep the below tips in mind to prevent choking injuries and accidents in children.

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The most common cause of nonfatal choking hazard is food. To reduce the risk of choking, keep the following food items out of reach of children or be present when feeding these food items to children.

•    Hot dogs, meat, sausages, and fish with bones

•    Hard candies, jelly beans, marshmallows, lollipops, and caramels

•    Raw peas, fruits, celery, carrots, cherries

•    Dried fruits and all kind of nuts

•    Ice cubes

•    Cheese cubes

•    Never ever leave your child unattended when he or she is having food. It is very important that either of the parent or a caretaker is present when the child is eating.

•    Children should be made to sit upright when eating. Make them eat slowly.

•    Avoid feeding children when they are walking, playing, or riding a bicycle.

•    Cut food in to small pieces before feeding them to children. Remove seeds and pits.

•    Boil or steam vegetables to soften their texture.

•    Combination of different food size, texture, and shape can pose a threat to children. So be careful when preparing meals for small children.

 •    Offer liquids to children when they are eating but don’t give solids and liquids together for the reason mentioned above.

•    Educate children about the correct ways of eating. Encourage them to chew their food properly and avoid talking when eating.

•    Avoid giving foods that are slippery or hard or dry in texture.

•    Peanut butter if given in spoonful or with soft bread can pose choking hazard. Peanut butter can stick to the roof of the child’s mouth and may form a blob. You may give a small quantity of peanut butter and give with jelly or cream cheese on whole grain breads. 

•    Household items and toys may also pose choking hazards. Some of the items that should not be given to children are

*.  Coins

*. Marbles

*. Small balls

*. Pen caps

*. Earrings

*. Crayons

*. Erasers

*. Safety pins

*. Small stones

*. Tiny figures

*.  Decorative items

To ensure child safety always read the label at the toys. Read the choking hazards mentioned at the toys. It is very important to learn to handle emergency situations. You must learn CPR, abdominal thrusts, AED, and other life-saving techniques to ensure safety of your child in times of choking and other emergencies.

The above article is a guest post written by Tim Scott. He is an expert author and writer who pleased the world with his topic about Pediatric First Aid & CPR . He also blogs for their Fans and followers and provide the solution of their query, with this blog he wants to share his knowledge . He welcomes any questions or comments you might have on his posts. You can find him on twitter and google+.