Child Choking Hazards and Prevention
Children under the age of four have a high risk of choking on food and small objects.
Because they have a narrow airway and have not fully developed the teeth and muscles for chewing food on their own, young children may easily choke on even seemingly small chunks of food.
Parents with small children should take care to follow general safety precautions to minimize the risk of a choking accident.
Common Choking Hazards Parents should take care to keep all small objects away from young children until they are about four years old.
Small toys and even toys with small parts could become a choking danger.
In general, if an object can fit in a child's mouth, he or she may choke on it.
Everyday household objects such as coins, marbles, bouncy balls, paperclips, and batteries can be a hazard.
Also, coarsely chopped foods and hard, round foods are difficult for children to swallow.
These include: candy, popcorn, nuts and seeds, chunks of meat, cheese, fruit, and vegetables.
Child Safety and Choking Prevention In the home, parents can take several steps to help keep their children safe from choking accidents:
If your child has suffered from a choking accident, someone may be liable.
Choking can lead to injuries, medical complications, costly medical bills, lost wages from taking time off work, and other damages.
Consider contacting a personal injury attorney immediately to determine if you have grounds to pursue a claim for compensation.
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Because they have a narrow airway and have not fully developed the teeth and muscles for chewing food on their own, young children may easily choke on even seemingly small chunks of food.
Parents with small children should take care to follow general safety precautions to minimize the risk of a choking accident.
Common Choking Hazards Parents should take care to keep all small objects away from young children until they are about four years old.
Small toys and even toys with small parts could become a choking danger.
In general, if an object can fit in a child's mouth, he or she may choke on it.
Everyday household objects such as coins, marbles, bouncy balls, paperclips, and batteries can be a hazard.
Also, coarsely chopped foods and hard, round foods are difficult for children to swallow.
These include: candy, popcorn, nuts and seeds, chunks of meat, cheese, fruit, and vegetables.
Child Safety and Choking Prevention In the home, parents can take several steps to help keep their children safe from choking accidents:
- Always keep floors and counters clear of small objects that your child could pick up and accidentally swallow.
- Check under and behind furniture for objects.
Children may crawl on the floor into small spaces and pick up objects hidden out of sight. - Secure all reachable cabinets and door handles so that children cannot enter rooms or storage spaces when unsupervised.
- Cut up your child's food into pieces smaller than what you think they need to be to minimize the risk of choking.
- Don't give your child or let anyone else give them small hard foods such as candy or nuts until he or she is 4 years old.
- Explain to older children that small objects are a serious risk.
Make sure they understand to never give a young child small foods or objects without an adult's permission.
If your child has suffered from a choking accident, someone may be liable.
Choking can lead to injuries, medical complications, costly medical bills, lost wages from taking time off work, and other damages.
Consider contacting a personal injury attorney immediately to determine if you have grounds to pursue a claim for compensation.
For More Information