What to Do When a Child Chokes
Did you know… every five days, a child dies from choking, making it one of the leading causes of death in children. I know this can be scary to think about, but we can help CHANGE this statistic!
As you know, PREVENTION can save lives, as much as, knowing how to take action. So let’s start here.
TOP WAYS TO PREVENT CHOKING:
Keep small toys and household items away from infants. A good rule of thumb is that if the object can fit easily inside a toilet-paper roll, it is a choking hazard and should be kept out of your small child’s reach.
Monitor children when they eat: children should sit down while eating
Encourage children to eat slowly and chew food thoroughly
Children should not eat in the car, especially in a car seat
Cut food into appropriate sizes (cut hot dogs lengthwise and widthwise). Cut foods for young children no larger than ½ inch.
The Top Choking-Causing Foods are:
Carrots. Popcorn. Marshmallows
Hot dogs. Nuts. Chicken Bones
Peanuts. Apples. Gumballs
Hard candy. Whole Grapes. Chunks of Meat
Now, that doesn’t mean your kiddos can’t enjoy any of these foods, what it means is, you need to teach your children how to properly eat these sometimes dangerous foods, modify them appropriately, and monitor them closely when they do enjoy them.
Other Non-Food Choking Hazards:
Small Screws. Legos. Paperclips
Coins. Small Keys. Rings
Now what does it look like when a child is choking?
When a child chokes, food, toy, or another object becomes lodged in the trachea (airway), occluding the airway from passing air to and from the lungs. The child will not be able to breathe, cry, or speak, and he or she may be gasping for air. They will appear panicked, and their face or lips may change colors. This is when they need you and they need you quickly!
So, let’s go over what to do if your child chokes:
STAY CALM: You know what to do.
If the child is coughing but can breathe and cry or talk - this means the airway is not completely blocked. Stay with the child, encourage them to cough, and let the episode pass.
If the child cannot breathe, speak, or appears to be panicked: do your best to stay calm For infants under one year of age, start with 5 back blows, then turn the infant over and perform five chest thrusts. Repeat this until the object is dislodged or the baby becomes unresponsive. For anyone over one year of age, perform abdominal thrusts until the object is dislodged or the person becomes unresponsive. If the infant or child is unresponsive and you need to take action and perform CPR, follow the steps below based on the age of your child.
I highly recommend all parents become CPR certified! Even if you call 911 and an EMT can be there in 5 minutes, that’s a long time for a little brain to go without oxygen. It’s important to know what to do and be able to act fast!
Whew, okay, I know it’s a lot -- but you got this!! This is one emergency every parent and caregiver needs to know how to help, so be so proud of yourself… you’re now that much more prepared!
For more complete info on choking and other child medical emergencies, check out my course: Mastering Medical Emergencies At Home.