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Protecting Kids from Choking, Suffocation, and Strangulation

Small children have small airways that can be blocked very easily. Every year, nearly 700 children die from unintentional suffocation, strangulation or entrapment, and at least another 150 die from foreign-body airway obstruction — choking on food, toy parts or other small objects. In addition, an estimated 900 cases each year suspected to be Sudden Infant Death Syndrome are actually cases of suffocation by soft bedding. Babies and toddlers under age 3 are especially vulnerable to suffocation because they cannot lift their heads or escape from tight places.

Like most injuries, unintentional choking, suffocation and strangulation occur mostly in the home. Three out of five cases of infant suffocation involve bedding, and most choking incidents in children involve food. Parents and caregivers should be especially cautious with small, round foods such as hot dogs, candies, nuts, grapes, carrots and popcorn. Other common choking hazards include coins, small balls and balloons. Suffocation hazards, in addition to bedding, include plastic bags and entrapment in poorly ventilated spaces such as laundry machines, car trunks and toy chests.

SAFE KIDS offers these precautions against choking, strangulation and suffocation:

Finally, the best thing a parent or caregiver can do to prevent choking is learning CPR and first aid for airway obstruction. If your airway is blocked, you are going to die. Infant and child CPR classes are available from local hospitals, fire departments and recreation departments. In less than three hours, parents can learn effective skills that can make the difference between life and death for a choking child.

Protect Your Most Precious Cargo—Your Child  

child safety seat“She’ll stop crying if I hold her on my lap." “We’re only going to the grocery store down the block." “He’s sick and needs comforting.” "She's hungry." Do any of these quotes sound familiar? They’re all common reasons parents give for not putting their children in appropriate child safety seats or safety belts. Unfortunately, unrestrained or improperly restrained children are far more likely to suffer severe injuries or die in motor vehicle mishaps than properly restrained children. In fact, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among children at every age after their first birthday. Even if you are a careful driver, you can’t control other driver’s behaviors or eliminate the possibility of a crash. And the forces that occur during a crash will make it impossible for you to “just hold on” to your child.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, child safety seats reduce the risk of death in passenger cars by about 70 percent for infants, and by about 55 percent for toddlers ages one to four.

The NHTSA recommends booster seats for children over 40 pounds until at least age 8. For children 9 years and older, car seatbelts reduce injury risk by about 50 percent. Unfortunately, many parents, unknowingly, incorrectly install car safety seats or improperly restrain their children. Here are some tips to help ensure your child is properly restrained while riding in your motor vehicle.