Beware Of These Foods That Are Child Choking Hazards
A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics reveals that more than 12,000 children end up in the emergency room every year for choking on food and 60 percent of cases involve children ages four and under. Children under the age of one were at greatest risk, accounting for 37.8 percent of all cases.
Researchers used data collected over a nine-year period from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance system and examined choking-related cases hospital visits for children ages 0 to 14. They discovered nearly 112,000 cases for non-fatal food choking; in the majority of these cases the patients were treated and released, while ten percent required hospitalization.
Candy is the leading choking hazard; hard candy accounts for 15.5 percent of cases, and other types of candy and gum accounts for 12.8 percent of cases. Meat (excluding hot dogs), bones, and fruits and vegetables follow as popular food hazards.
In cases that involved hospitalization, top culprits include nuts, seeds and hot dogs. Leading researcher Dr. Gary Smith of the Center of Injury Research and Policy says these foods are high-risk because they are hard to chew and are more likely to block a child's airway, according to an NBC report.
The American Academy of Pediatrics shares these choking prevention tips for children:
Cut food for babies and young children into pieces no larger than half an inch.
Young children should avoid high-risk foods like grapes, hot dogs, raw carrots and peanuts.
Supervise meal times to make sure children chew their food and are properly seated while eating. Running, walking, playing or lying down while eating can lead to choking.
Check out the slideshow above to learn the top ten foods that put your child at risk of choking.
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