Wellness - Safety/First Aid | 0-6 yrs
Choking Emergency In Children
ParentCircle
One of the many dangers faced by parents of infants and toddlers is choking. A child chokes when he is unable to breathe properly, which may happen due to a variety of reasons. One of the common cause of choking among young children is swallowing of small toys, buttons, batteries and coins, among others. Children can sometimes also choke on food. Therefore, it is necessary that parents keep small objects away from the reach of little children. Parents also need to ensure that they do not feed food that can get stuck in their child’s windpipe and choke him.
To prevent any kind of choking hazards, an article titled What can I do to prevent infant choking? published in MayoClinic offers a few tips:
- Time the introduction of solid foods
- Avoid high-risk foods like cheese, grapes, big chunks of raw vegetable and fruits
- Look through and evaluate your child’s toys
- Keep hazardous objects out of reach
However, in the unfortunate event that your child chokes on something, what would you do as a parent? The article by Mayo Clinic also suggests a few immediate measures parents can take. One of its main suggestions is that parents should get trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and choking first aid for children.
For more on ways to prevent a choking emergency in your child, please take the time out to read the ClipBook below, which is curated with useful links on the topic.Â
Know All About Choking
When a child is choking, it means that an object, usually food or a toy, is stuck in the trachea (the airway), keeping air from flowing normally into or out of the lungs, so the child can't breathe properly. Sometimes, an object can get into the t...
Choking: Signs And Symptoms
A child who is choking often appears panicked and may wave his or her arms or grab at his or her throat. Older children may hold the neck with one or both hands, which is the universal sign for choking.
Preventing Choking In Children
Small objects, including pieces of food, can be choking risks for babies and toddlers. Try to keep small objects out of reach until children are less likely to choke and are old enough to understand the risks.
Infant Choking: How To Keep Your Baby Safe?
Among other causes, introducing your baby to solid foods before he or she has the motor skills to swallow them can lead to infant choking. With the help of these guidelines, know what to do if your baby chokes.
What To Do When Your Child Is Choking
Here's a step-by-step guide on what to do when a baby or child is choking. One of the steps involves making a fist with one hand and placing the thumb side against the child's stomach above the navel, but below the rib cage.
Foods That Can Be Unsafe For Your Child
As your child grows, he'll be eager to sample food from your plate and you'll be eager to add variety to his diet. But not all foods are safe for your child at every age. Some still pose a choking hazard.
