Choking Hazards

Thousands of children suffer from choking every year. Choking is the obstruction of the airflow to the lungs, most commonly caused by a foreign object. Babies and small children have small airways, making it easier for them to choke. Food particles are a common cause of choking, but other objects can frequently be involved in choking accidents.

Common causes of choking in children

Choking can be caused by a number of causes. Some of the most common causes of choking in young children include:

• Running or playing with food or objects in the mouth
• Trying to swallow large or hard pieces of poorly chewed food
• Consuming throat shaped foods the right size for blocking a child’s airway
• Putting foreign, non-food objects in the mouth
• Consuming sticky foods that can get lodged in the throat

Choking risks

To keep your child safe, there are several food and non-food products that you should not allow your child to eat or interact with. To avoid choking hazards in your home, keep the following away from your children:

• Hard fruits and vegetables, such as apples and carrots
• Hot dogs and other sausages
• Peanut butter
• Candies
• Nuts
• Marshmallows
• Popcorn or chips
• Large chunks of meat or cheese
• Grapes
• Broken toys, crayons, or games
• Small items, such as pen caps, coins, and batteries

If your child is visibly choking, struggling to breathe, cannot make noise, has blue lips, or has passed out they need to be treated for choking. Choking is a medical emergency. While waiting for emergency care, abdominal thrusts can be administered to the child in the meantime to try and clear the airway. If the child is too small to receive abdominal thrusts, they can be given five back blows to try and clear the obstruction.

Contact Us

Choking accidents happen frequently and can cause serious threats to a child’s health. If your child has been the victim of a choking accident due to another’s negligence, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact the Las Vegas personal injury lawyers of William Palmer & Associates, P.C. today at 702-888-2222 to discuss your legal rights and options at this time.