Prevent Choking Suffocation Do This Not That

Choking and suffocation can occur at any age, but is more common in babies and toddlers. Choking is the 4th leading cause of unintentional death in children under the age of 5. At least 1 child dies from choking on food every 5 days in the U.S. Common foods and other items children choke on include:

• Bubble gum and other types of gum

• Peanuts, other nuts, and popcorn

• Peanut butter (especially from a spoon or with soft white bread)

• Whole grapes and foods with pits, such as cherries

• Hot dogs (whole or cut into round pieces)

• Hard candy and cough drops

• Balloons, button-type batteries, small toy parts, marbles, coins, and safety pins.

Do This, Not That Child Home Safety

Do This, Not That to Prevent Falls

Do This, Not That: Prevent Drowning

In adults, choking usually occurs when food is not chewed properly. The risk increases with talking or laughing while eating, drinking alcohol, taking drugs, or having a condition that impairs chewing or swallowing. In young adults, choking can result from playing the “choking game.” With this, the person uses a rope or belt to cut off blood and oxygen to the brain for a brief “high.”

Learn first aid for choking for babies, children, and adults from your local Red Cross. Find a class in your area at www.redcross.org or call 800.733.2767 (800.RED.CROSS).

Do This, Not That: Home Security

Do This, Not That: Prevent Fires & Burns

SEE ALL HOME SAFETY ARTICLES

ADULTS

Do This

Let your doctor know if you have problems swallowing pills or vitamins. Ask if they come in liquid forms or if you can crush pills and mix them with juice or food, such as applesauce.

Not That

Do not split or crush pills if the label says not to unless okayed by your doctor or pharmacist. Do not omit a medicine because you have a hard time swallowing it.

Do This

If you or a loved one has a medical problem that impairs swallowing, choose liquids and foods with textures that are easier to eat. Discuss, with your doctor, medicines and procedures that aid in swallowing. If you wear dentures, make sure they fit well.

Not That

Don’t eat too fast. Don’t have foods that you choke on easily or that need a lot of chewing. Examples are tough meats, nuts, raw crunchy vegetables, caramels, peanut butter, and dry crumbly food, such as crackers. DO NOT swallow a teaspoon of cinnamon.

CHILDREN

Do This

Make sure baby cribs and cots are safe for your child. Find out about crib recalls, crib safety, and the newest safety standards for cribs from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at www.cpsc.gov/cribs.

Not That

Never put a child in a crib with bars that are more than 2 inches apart. Do not use cribs with broken, loose, or missing parts. A child can get caught between the crib and its loosened side. Cribs made after June 2011 cannot have traditional drop sides.

Do This

Lay babies (up to 12 months old) on their backs to sleep in their bassinettes or cribs.

Not That

Do not lay babies to sleep on their stomachs. Do not have pillows, blankets, quilts, bumper guards, stuffed toys, or other soft products in the crib. Instead of a blanket, use a sleep sack or warm sleeper to keep your baby warm.

Do This

Make sure that gaps between the sides of the crib and mattress are not larger than two fingers so a baby cannot get stuck in spaces between the mattress and the crib. Make sure a baby’s face is not covered during sleep.

Not That

Do not fall asleep on a bed with your baby or toddler. You could roll over and crush your child. Or, blankets or pillows could cover his or her nose and mouth.

Do This

Teach children to chew foods well before swallowing. Supervise children when they eat.

Not That

Don’t let children eat too fast or put too much food in their mouths at one time. Do not give large pieces of food to young children.

Do This

Keep plastic bags away from children. Children can easily cover their nose and mouth with trash, garbage, dry-cleaning and other plastic bags.

Not That

Do not leave plastic shopping bags within the reach of children.

Do This

Cut and tie off window blind cords and keep them out of children’s reach. Or, use blinds with safety cords or window treatments that have no cords or ties.

Not That

Do not have blinds with looped cords or other window treatments with ties on windows in the house, especially ones near cribs or in a child’s bedroom.

Do This

Cut food into small bites. For children under age 4, cut foods into pieces that are a half-inch or less. Cut grapes and hot dogs in halves or quarters. Give small amounts of food at a time.

Not That

Do not give foods that are easy to choke on to children under age 5. Keep all choking hazards out of young children’s reach.

Do This

Have your child sit while eating. Teach your child to chew foods well before swallowing.

Not That

Do not allow your child to eat while playing, running, or moving around.

Do This

Follow warnings to keep small toys and items with small parts away from young children. This includes:

• Button batteries

• Coins

• Dice, game pieces, and marbles

• Small cars

• Stuffed animals with plastic eyes

Not That

Do not give anything to children under age 3 that is small enough to fit through a cylinder that is 2¼ inches long by 1¼ inches wide. This is slightly wider than a coin sorter for quarters or about the width of 2 fingers.

Do This

Remove and throw away plastic film covers that come on CDs, toys, and appliances.

Not That

NEVER give latex balloons to children under age 5.

Do This

Keep cords on baby monitors, lamps, and night lights at least three feet away from the crib. Or use ones that operate without cords.

Not That

Do not put canopy curtains or wall decorations with streamers or ribbons near the crib.

This website is not meant to substitute for expert medical advice or treatment. Follow your doctor’s or health care provider’s advice if it differs from what is given in this guide.

The American Institute for Preventive Medicine (AIPM) is not responsible for the availability or content of external sites, nor does AIPM endorse them. Also, it is the responsibility of the user to examine the copyright and licensing restrictions of external pages and to secure all necessary permission.

The content on this website is proprietary. You may not modify, copy, reproduce, republish, upload, post, transmit, or distribute, in any manner, the material on the website without the written permission of AIPM.

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