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Last month, Mercy shared ways to keep pain in check when our kids are sick. As moms, we can’t predict when the germs or viruses will hit, so it’s a comfort to have a plan of attack for when they do. Choking is another childhood danger we need to prepare for, and Mercy offers tips to help keep our kids as safe as possible from choking hazards.
Choking
Baby-proofing your home is one of the first things you do to keep your infant safe. Familiarizing yourself with some common choking hazards will help you keep your home a safe space.
For infants, toys, food, and coins are common choking hazards. The same is true for toddlers, with the addition of candy and gum. Hot dogs and grapes pose a great choking risk due to their size and shape. Toddlers are still learning how to chew their food well, and they often are easily distracted playing with toys and running around while they are eating.
Common choking hazards for elementary-aged kids are latex balloons and food, in addition to coins, candy / gum, and tougher foods such as hard meats (steak and pork). When you have older kids in the house, toys that are acceptable for them to play with often have small or removable parts that can pose a choking risk to younger kids in the home. Be aware, and give your older child a spot to play with such toys where younger siblings can’t get to them.
Kids under 4 should not have the following foods unless they have been cut up:
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- Hot dogs
- Nuts and seeds
- Chunks of meat or cheese
- Whole grapes
- Hard, gooey, or sticky candy
- Popcorn
- Chunks of peanut butter
- Raw vegetables
- Raisins
- Raw carrots
- Apples
- Chewing gum
- Marshmallows
- Sausages
In addition to watching for foods that can be choking hazards, be on alert for these common dangerous household items that can pose a choking risk:
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- Latex Balloons
- Coins
- Marbles
- Toys with small parts or spherical in shape
- Toys that can be compressed to fit entirely into a child’s mouth
- Small balls
- Pen or marker caps
- Small button-type batteries
- Medicine syringes
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What to Do if Your Child is Choking
Seeing your child choke may stop you in your tracks, but responding quickly is essential. If you use the finger sweep method, be sure the object is visible in the mouth, not down in the throat. If utilizing the Heimlich maneuver, Mercy pediatric emergency physician, Dr. Chantel Walker, shares the proper technique here:
Raising kids is an all-consuming responsibility, so it’s important to arm yourself with knowledge ahead of time in order to create a safe space for your children to help avoid many potential illnesses and injuries. Beyond that, knowing how to treat those illnesses and injuries once they happen is the next layer of protection. The best measure for future health is to take the time to educate yourself now.
