Most parents have had some sort of near-miss choking incident.  Maybe their child was running round while eating, or maybe they tried to eat a piece of food that was too big.  The CDC estimates that in 2001, 17,000 kids below age 15 were seen in US emergency rooms for choking incidents (CDC, Nonfatal Choking-Related Episodes Among Young Children - United States 2001, MMWR Weekly, Oct. 2002.). Kids under six are at particular risk for a variety of reasons.  Try these tips for lowering your child’s risk:

1. Make sure children are always seated and supervised when eating.
2. Avoid the ten foods kids most commonly choke on.
3. Encourage them to carefully chew and swallow before taking another bite, talking, or laughing.
4. Instruct kids to eat slowly and take small bites.
5. Make sure kid’s food is cut into pieces smaller than ½ inch. The Safer Sizer Choking Prevention Plate can help with that.
6. For evaluating the size of a toddler’s toys, use the toilet paper roll test: if it can fit through, it’s too small.
7. Read all labels on toys for potential choking hazards.
8. Don’t let kids put anything in their mouths. Be especially wary of small items lying around the home that kids could choke on. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping the following objects away from babies and young children (Source: Parenting Corner Q & A, Choking Prevention, AAP website.):

• Balloons
• Coins
• Marbles
• Toys with small parts
• Toys that can be compressed to fit into a child’s mouth
• Small balls
• Pen or marker caps
• Small button type batteries
• Medicine syringes

Parents and all caregivers should also learn how to perform the Heimlich maneuver and CPR in the event that an accident does occur.