Here are reasons for choking in kids, choking
hazards for babies and why do kids choke.
Choking in Kids
Toddlers would chew on small objects, right when they
get their first tooth. The little ones cannot be resisted to do this
forcibly, because at this stage of development, it is inherent in them
to explore new things, by smelling, touching and tasting them. They are
curious to put whatever they come across into their mouths and figure
out the taste. In the process, they would try to gulp the objects.
During the process, chewing on objects often leads to choking, because
the little ones are distracted or playful while eating.
The prime reason behind choking in kids is the very small diameter of
the airway passage and gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, the swallowing
mechanism of babies is not fully mature. Apart from chewing on things,
the toddlers would try to 'smell' the objects, which leads to a choke in
their larynx or the bronchi as well. They tend to insert small things,
such as color pencils and chalks into their nostrils, which chokes them
and causes suffocation. It is the sole responsibility of the parents and
caretakers to prevent the children from placing objects in the little
mouth, because almost anything and everything are potential choking
hazards. Read the article and learn how to prevent choking in kids.
Choking Hazards For Babies
- Avoid putting anything around baby's neck, including string or
scarves. Make sure that you remove clothespins from all children's
clothing.
- Never buy cheap toys, because they break very easily. Make sure
the toys you purchase are safe enough for the toddler to play and do
not cause choking hazard in your child. Buy toys, whose smaller
parts cannot be detached by the kids.
- Children less than four years old should not be given grapes, raw
vegetables, sliced hot dogs, popcorn nuts, grapes, fruit chunks,
seeds and hard candy, because such food stuff get lodged in their
throats, easily.
- Cribs should always be placed away from cords, hanging from
blinds or draperies.
- Small objects such as plastic bags, detachable parts on toys,
buttons and coins should be kept out of the reach of children.
- Balloons such as latex and inflatable ones should be kept far
beyond the reach of the children, because they often tend to play
with the stuff and end up gulping them, which chokes them.
- Large bites of food, when chewed on by kids, can cause choking
when they get caught in the throat. When they are choked in the
throat, the food stuffs block the airway, preventing oxygen from
getting to the lungs and the brain. Hence, always make sure that you
feed your baby small bites of food. Cut the food stuffs into very
small pieces. The food slices should not excess the limit of ½
inch thickness for their diameter.
