There are things you can do to prevent (choking) ... such as not giving your child certain foods, which would include, below the age of three, nuts, seeds, cherries, sliced carrots, grapes, a wad of peanut butter or gum, hot dogs or other meats that are too large ... .
Other things would be not to allow anyone under the age of eight to play with latex balloons; they can be aspirated very easily.
Then check the toys for a small part, something common around the house would be a 35 millimeter roll of film canister. If an object can fit in that canister, a child under three should not be allowed to have it, to hold it, to play with it.
One shouldn’t allow a child to ride in a car with a lollipop or hard candy in their mouth, and children shouldn’t run while eating; these are real set ups for aspirations, and things that you can prevent.
Jay Hoecker, MD
Dr. Hoecker's Bio
Pediatrician, parent, educator
Listen to the full interview below, and feel free to share your comments.
