PROJECTS ONLINE: CHILD SAFETY--PREVENT YOUR CHILD FROM CHOKING
Project Difficulty:
Moderate
Here are a few tips to prevent your child from choking.
1.
Be Aware
* Never leave a child alone when eating or drinking. Food is the most common cause of choking and suffocation.
* Be aware of small toys or other household objects. If the widest part of any item fits inside a typical toilet paper roll (1-3/4 inch diameter), consider it an item that can choke a child. Items to watch out for include rubber tips on doorstops, the t-shaped plastic tags from new clothes, jewelry, marbles, and puzzle pieces. (Fig. 1)
* Balloons have killed hundreds of children. If a child is chewing on a balloon and it pops, the air from the balloon can propel a piece into the child's mouth where it can lodge in the esophagus. Even uninflated balloons or pieces of popped balloon pose a hazard if a child comes across one.
