The holidays offer opportunities for festivities and gatherings and lots of activity and celebrating – usually with food and drink! The setting is one of laughter and joy, yet there is an increased risk to safety especially with children. As attention is stretched in different directions and time to slow down to eat and drink is non-existent during playtime with friends and family, there is an increased risk of choking.
Prevention
Here are five tips to help prevent severe choking:
- Cut food into small pieces: This is especially important for children and the elderly.
- Chew food thoroughly: Take your time eating and avoid talking or laughing while chewing.
- Avoid certain foods for young children: Foods like hot dogs, nuts, grapes, and hard candies can easily cause choking.
- Keep small objects out of reach: Items like marbles, beads, and small toys should be kept away from young children.
- Supervise mealtimes: Always keep an eye on young children while they are eating.
It’s important to know how to best handle the situation when a child, or adult, is choking. For mild choking, the individual can still talk, is coughing and breathing. In this situation, encourage the coughing until the passageway clears itself.
Do not offer water or slap the back! Many think that slapping the back assists in dislodging or opening the passageway. In fact, the opposite is true, if there’s an obstruction, it can be lodged deeper. So no slapping or water, please!
For severe choking where breathing is impaired, think 5
and 5 back blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. Then give 5 abdominal thrusts.
Repeat if needed. And, always, if you feel their life is in danger, call 911!
