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Choking
is also called Cafe Coronary .
"Cafe
coronary" is poorly named because it has nothing to do with
a heart attack.
"Cafe
coronary" is blockage in the upper airway, usually caused
by food or vomit stuck in the throat. The blockage causes
choking and can be life-threatening. Learn
More
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The
Heimlich Maneuver
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There
are few experiences more frightening than seeing your child choking
and gasping for air. If you have children you know they are fascinated
by all sorts of objects and everything goes straight to their mouth.
Popcorn,
balloons, toys are all items you might find in an average home.
And, all of these items pose a potential choking hazard, especially
in young children, because they can easily lodge in a child's small
airway. Anything that fits inside a child's mouth can be a danger.
Choking
occurs when suddenly, an object is swallowed, goes down the wrong
way, and lodges in the windpipe. The transport of oxygen to the
brain is blocked and without oxygen for as little as four minutes
brain damage and death can occur.
Eating
does not come naturally
Young
children are still learning to eat solid food. From the time children
are weaned from the bottle until about the age of four, children
are mastering the skill of chewing, swallowing and breathing simultaneously.
Mealtime should be kept quiet with no running or playing around.
If a child becomes distracted or excited while eating, the food
could easily be inhaled into the windpipe.
 Children
under age four are also more likely to choke on small, hard, smooth
food because they do not have the back teeth needed to chew and
grind food properly.
The
most dangerous are foods such as hot dogs, chunks of cheese, hard
candies, nuts, grapes, carrots and popcorn. These can easily form
a perfect plug in a child's airway. Make sure that food is an appropriate
size for the age of the child, it should be grated, mashed, or chopped
into bite sized pieces before being fed to a child.
Peanuts
and hard candy should be avoided altogether. An older child is more
likely to spit out something that is too hard or large to chew.
This doesn't mean a child older than four can't choke; a person
of any age can choke on food.
Toys
are meant to be fun
By
following a few simple, yet vital safety tips, parents can assure
that toys are safe. Select toys to suit the age, skills, interests,
and abilities of the individual child. Toys too advanced may pose
safety hazards to younger children. Be a label reader.
Look
for labels that give age recommendations and use that information
as a guide. Toys labeled as not recommended for children under three
years of age, may contain small parts which may pose a choking hazard
to young children.
Never
buy vending-machine toys for small children; these toys do not have
to meet safety regulations and often contain small parts. Inspect
old and new toys regularly for strength and parts that could come
loose and become a choking hazard. You can check the safety of a
child's toy with a toy-testing cylinder or toilet paper tube.
If
toys can pass through the cylinder, toys or components of toys are
small enough for children to choke on if the toys are placed in
their mouths. A colorful balloon is meant to brighten someone's
day, but balloons pose a special hazard.
It
may surprise you to learn that balloons are the leading cause of
choking deaths other than food, in children under the age of three
and a common cause of choking up to age 8. Balloons can easily glide
into the windpipe causing a complete obstruction. Keep all balloons,
whether deflated, inflated or burst out of your child's grasp.
Because
there are so many small objects around the house, it's important
for parents to constantly be aware of objects that a child could
choke on. Parents should check their child's play and sleeping area
daily for small objects such as beads, buttons, jewelry, tacks,
batteries, coins, toy parts, marbles, safety pins, batteries.
Anything
smaller than a baby's mouth should be kept out of their reach.
Even with proper supervision and vigilance on your part, choking
accidents can still happen. Knowing the right steps to take before
an emergency can save your child's life.
Parents
should learn what to do for a choking child by taking a child CPR
class through the local American Red Cross or American Heart Association.
The class is usually 8 hours long and covers child safety, first
aid, and CPR including the Heimlich
maneuver for children of different ages.
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© 1999 PersonalMD.com. All rights reserved.
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