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Health Tips

It Doesn’t Take Much To Stop A Child’s Breathing

Practice Prevention. Be Prepared.

How big does something have to be to represent a potential choking hazard? Not big at all! For example: The choke tube to the right is used by many companies as a test to help determine if a toy part can represent a choking hazard to a child under three years of age. If an object can fit entirely inside this thin tube, it represents a potential choking hazard. Use this as a rule of thumb.

Prevention Tips:

Here are a few suggestions to help prevent a choking emergency.

1.Watch out for balloons-
*Blow up balloons for your child, or supervise if the child does it.
*Don’t leave a deflated balloon or scraps from a burst balloon on the ground where a baby can reach them.

2.Check out toys-
*Watch out for toys that have small parts that can be pulled off accidently.
*Use a “choke tube” to determine if a toy or toy part presents a potential choking
hazard.

3.Cut food into small non-round pieces. Supervise eating-
*If you serve grapes and hot dogs to your children, follow these tips:
1.Cut hot dogs the long way, and then crosswise to create small pieces less than one inch.
2.Quarter grapes. Cut other fruits and vegetables into tiny pieces (making sure pieces are angular...not round).

4.Aviod foods that can block airways-
*Peanuts, popcorn, raisins, marshmallows, hard candy and gum should not be given to infants or small children.

5.Learn CPR and first aid for choking-
*In the event of a choking emergency, know what to do! No matter how hard you try to prevent accidents from happening, the unthinkable can still occur. That is why the American Heart Association recommends that ALL parents learn CPR and first aid for choking for the sake of their children.

“CPR is not just for heart attacks,” says Amy Dowdy, Director of Education. Over 16 million children end up in the emergency department each year as a result of accidents and injuries that can require CPR. “Some of the common causes of “sudden death” or accidents that may require CPR include: suffocation, electric shock, cardiac arrest, severe allergic reaction, drowning, and accidental poisonings,"she continues.

Be prepared for your child’s safety and your peace of mind.

This healthcare message brought to you courtesy of Delta Regional Medical Center.