There's No Joking When it Comes to Choking

2,800 children and infants die of choking-related deaths every year. These deaths should be considered tragic because they could have been easily avoided with closer supervision by adults. Whether you are a parent, a grandparent, or a third-party caregiver, closely watching a child or knowing what they are doing at all times is the easiest way to avoid choking.

As a rule, keep small items such as toy parts, household knick-knacks, and garbage out of the reach of children. Supervise children when they eat and monitor their portions and bite sizes. The American Red Cross and other organizations recommend child supervision until age 4, though no child is too old for an extra eye.

To prevent a child from choking on food, take these precautions:

• Be sure your child chews his or her food well. Make a rule of how many times they must chew before they can swallow. If you teach them this rule at a young age, you shouldn't have to worry about them choking as they get older.
• Have your child eat only while seated and not moving. Avoid feeding your child while both of you are in a moving vehicle.
• Cut food into small pieces that you are sure your child cannot choke on.
• Use caution when giving children certain foods that may be easy to choke on, such as hard candies, sticky foods, and nuts.

During playtime there are a few precautions you need to take:

• Do not let infants play with marbles, coins, batteries, or toys with small detachable pieces. Infants and very young children enjoy biting and sucking on things, so be extra careful to avoid making mouth-sized parts available to your young child. Toys are a leading cause of choking, and most children who die from choking are under age 3 and choke on toy parts.
• If you do not normally provide childcare, be sure to childproof your house before a toddler arrives. Remove trinkets from table tops and check under couches and in cushions for small parts. Remember that children have small hands and can fit into smaller areas than adults.

Supervision is the only solution to choking, so when you are the primary caregiver, focus your attention on the child you are caring for.