Safer Child Products

I just heard about a young boy who had a choking incident on a cut-up piece of hot dog.  Hot dogs are so rubbery and slippery!  It was a terrible story, but thankfully, he came out ok.  He was one of the lucky ones. This tiny piece of hot dog got lodged in his airway,, but it must have been so low down that the Heimlich maneuver did not help, nor did the thumping on his back.  His day care providers did everything right, but it was the 911 operator who stayed on the phone with the day care and helped them figure out how to get this little boy’s airway un-blocked. 

According to an article in WebMd http://children.webmd.com/news/20100222/group-aims-to-reduce-child-choking-deaths  “In a 2001 CDC review of choking injuries, about one-third of choking episodes occurred in infants and three-fourths occurred in children under the age of 3.” I read that a toddler’s airway is about the size of a straw, and we all know that many times, toddlers eat on the run, not sitting down for a meal!  Developmentally, chewing can be an issue too!  I remember saying to my children when they were younger, “bite it and chew it”.  Consider how many teeth  they have, and how good a job they are able to do chewing up their food.

We as parents and caregivers need to be educated and make responsible decisions about what foods to feed our children, and when they need to be supervised while eating.  Be sure to get CPR certified and have choking first-aid training too.  Make sure your babysitters or anyone in charge of your children are trained and aware of the rules during mealtime, such as sitting while eating, and cutting food into small pieces.  Call your local Hospital System to find out when they offer CPR and Choking Resuscitation Classes. 

Don’t forget that small toys and “button” batteries pose a choking risk to young children as well. Even when a battery compartment is screwed closed, it can still be a risk factor.  I saw a mom post recently about her young daughter who somehow pried open the battery compartment of a toy and popped the battery in her mouth before her parents, who were just steps away, even had a chance to react!.  Keep small toys and battery operated objects out of reach of small children.

Wishing you all another safe and wonderful week. Stay alert and keep a phone nearby in case of an emergency!
Information for parents on choking prevention is available at http://aapnews.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/31/3/26-q.