3. Remember a choking child may not make any noise, so adults must keep their eyes on children who are eating at all times.


4. Watch children for “squirreling,” when they put several pieces of food in their mouth. This increases the risk of choking.


5. Never allow children to play games that involve catching food in their mouth or stuffing large numbers or amounts of food in the mouth.


6. Don’t give young children foods that must be chewed with a grinding motion, such as raw vegetables. Children don’t master that kind of chewing until age four, so they may attempt to swallow the food whole.


Kids and choking 10 TIPS TO PREVENT IT


By KIKI BOCHI


home. At least the dinner table is safe. Or is it?


S Choking remains a very


common cause of injury and death in children under age 5, and babies are at particular risk. But while most people associate choking with young children putting toys and small items in their mouth, the majority of choking incidents actually involve food.


Vigilance is key


“If a toy were too small, it would be pulled off the shelves, but there is no surveillance mechanism to monitor choking hazards in food,” says Gary A. Smith, M.D., of the American Academy of Pediatrics. You probably already know not


ometimes it may seem like danger lurks at every turn when you have a little one at


to give your little ones small, smooth foods like peanuts, hard candy or hot dogs cut in circles. To further reduce the risk to the tykes in your life, consider this advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of


Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery:


1. Children should always be seated when eating. Make sure they do not eat when standing, walking, running, playing, lying down, or riding in vehicles. If they laugh, stumble or get scared, they may gasp and choke on large pieces of food.


2. Your attention is required. Children at this age require increased supervision when eating because they are easily distracted. Teach your child to chew tho- roughly and swallow before talking or laughing.


7. Shape is critical. Cut foods such as grapes and other fruits, meat, cheese, and raw vegetables into small pieces and shapes that can't get wedged in the airway, blocking it. Cut hot dogs lengthwise and well as widthwise.


8. Beware of sticky foods such as peanut butter or popcorn that can get stuck in a child's airway.


Offer plenty of liquids to children when eating, but make sure liquids and solids are not swallowed at the same time.


9. Don’t forget that certain objects have also been associated with choking, including uninflated or broken balloons; baby powder; items from the trash (e.g., eggshells, tops from beverage cans and bottles); safety pins; coins; marbles; small balls; pen caps; and small button-type batteries.


10. Because there is no way to prevent every accident, make sure you and you child's other caregivers are trained in infant and child CPR.


KiKi Bochi is an award-winning reporter and editor who writes regularly about family health.


HVParent.com  Hudson Valley Parent 13


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