Prevention of choking hazard in children

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Putting objects in their mouths is one of the ways babies and young children explore the world around them. However, choking is often caused by food, toys, and other small objects that easily get caught in a child's windpipe. Therefore, parents need to know dangerous situations, ways to keep their children safe and prevent children from suffocating due to foreign objects.

1. When should parents be concerned about choking hazards?

From the time your child starts picking up objects with his or her fingers until he or she is 4 or 5 years old, you will need to be alert to choking hazards.
Children under 5 years old are at the highest risk of choking due to foreign bodies. This is partly because children tend to explore the world around them by putting things in their mouths.
It's also because babies are still learning how to chew and swallow food. Babies as young as 6 or 7 months can take a bite of food with their new front teeth. But children cannot chew food thoroughly until all of their molars are fully grown and they have had a lot of practice with food, usually by the time they are 4 years old.
The following information is provided to help educate parents, carers and feeders on how to prevent choking incidents and possible deaths.
Choking is the 4th leading cause of unintentional death in children under 5 years of age. Children under 5 years of age are at the highest risk of suffocation injury and death. Toys, household items, and food can all pose a choking hazard. At least one child dies from choking on food every five days in the United States, and more than 12,000 children are rushed to the emergency room each year from choking on food. Although toy manufacturers label toys as a choking hazard, and some food manufacturers voluntarily label food products as a choking hazard; however, any food can present a choking hazard.

Pediatricians, family doctors, health care workers, parents, grandparents, kindergarten teachers, older children, siblings, babysitters and the community at large play an important role In the prevention of accidents and injuries, information should be shared with caregivers to identify potential choking hazards. The size of a baby's windpipe or breathing tube is roughly the same diameter as a straw. Imagine how a piece of popcorn placed in such a small area would choke. Sometimes health conditions also increase the risk of choking. For example, children with swallowing disorders, neuromuscular disorders, developmental delays, and traumatic brain injuries, are at higher risk of choking than other children.

2. The risk of children choking on the airways with age

2.1 Potential choking hazard for babies 6 to 12 months old

Babies 6 to 12 months old are learning to chew and swallow food. This means your child could choke. Pay close attention to what your child is eating and what he puts in his mouth.
Food preparation can increase the risk of choking. For example, some foods that are eaten uncooked, whole, or in certain shapes by babies can pose a choking hazard. Cutting food into smaller pieces and grinding food can help prevent choking.
Here are examples of potential choking hazards:

2.1.2 Fruits and vegetables

Corn kernels cooked or whole. Uncut cherry or grape tomatoes Raw, hard pieces of fruit or vegetables. Whole piece canned fruit; Grapes, berries, cherries; Dried fruit like raisins.

2.1.3 Protein

Whole or chopped nuts and nut butters such as peanut butter; chewy meat or large pieces; Sausages, meat sticks; Fish with bones; Large pieces of cheese, especially cottage cheese.

2.1.4 Cereal products

Cookie; Potato chips or fried corn, crackers or similar snack foods; Whole grain, whole grain or grain bread; Whole grains are cooked like barley, wheat or other grains.

2.1.5 Sweet foods

Hard candy, jelly beans, caramel, mini gum or marshmallows.

2.2 Potential choking hazard for infants 12 to 24 months of age

When your baby is 12 months old, your baby is eating better and can even feed himself. Although your child can now eat most foods, some foods still pose a choking hazard.
Food preparation can increase the risk of choking. For example, certain foods that are undercooked, whole or in certain shapes can pose a choking hazard. Cutting food into smaller pieces and grinding food can help prevent choking. These are examples of potential choking hazards at this age:
Vegetables: carrots; grapes, cherry tomatoes; large pieces of raw fruit or vegetable Protein: Whole peanuts; tough meat; sausage slices or round sausages; nuts; peanut butter. Grain products: Popcorn with butter; chips Sweet foods: Gum and hard candy

3. Ways to prevent choking hazard in children

Keep your child still: Make sure your child is sitting while eating. Do not let your child eat while lying down, walking, playing or running. Encourage your child to eat slowly: One way to do this is to make sure your child has a drink at mealtime (like water or milk). Encourage small sips between bites to make sure your child is chewing and swallowing, and doesn't stuff too much food into his mouth that could cause choking. Puree or puree baby food: Blend or puree food until it is soft enough for your baby to suck on or chew. Cut finger foods into small pieces: When your child is ready to handle foods, it is recommended that you cut foods into pieces no larger than 1/2 inch, especially dried fruits and hard foods. round shapes, such as grapes, cherries, and tomatoes. Alternatively, cut the sausage lengthwise before slicing. Cook vegetables: Cook vegetables like carrots, broccoli, and green beans until tender before cutting them into small pieces. Spread nut butter: Peanut butter and other nut butters are a choking hazard. Spread nut butter thinly on bread or crackers or dilute with water or apple sauce.

Choose snacks: Do not give your child popcorn, gum, nuts, hard or sticky candies, or marshmallows until they are at least 4 years old. Nuts may be too small for a child to choke on, but they can get stuck in a child's airway and cause an infection. Avoid small objects: Do not let young children play with buttons, coins, pins, magnets, batteries, balloons, small stones, or anything less than 1.25 inches in radius or length. less than 2.25 inches. Keep baby powder away: Do not allow children to play with the baby powder container. The powder can spill and clog your child's throat. Carefully evaluate your child's toys. Do not allow babies or toddlers to play with rubber balloons, which are dangerous when uninflated and when they burst, in addition to small balls, marbles, toys containing Small parts or toys intended for older children. Look for age guidelines when buying toys and regularly inspect toys to make sure they're in good used condition. Anyone caring for young children should be trained in infant CPR, also known as CPR. This training covers what to do in situations where a child is choking on a foreign body.
Pediatrics Department at Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for receiving and examining diseases that infants and young children are susceptible to: digestive diseases, viral fever, bacterial fever, inflammation middle ear, pneumonia in children, .... With modern equipment, sterile space, minimizing the impact as well as the risk of disease spread. Along with that is the dedication from the doctors with professional experience with pediatric patients, making the examination no longer a concern of the parents.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

References: babycenter.com, health.ny.gov, cdc.gov
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