Every parent's worst nightmare is the realization that their baby or toddler is choking, and they are unsure of what to do. This is a common fear as it's natural for babies to explore by putting objects in their mouths. Even if you provide them with tiny, cut-up pieces of food, it's impossible to prevent them from taking larger pieces from other children.
Tragically, in the U.S., a child chokes to death roughly every five days, with 75 percent of these deaths occurring in children under three years old.
The terror of watching your child transition from perfectly fine to unconscious within minutes is unimaginable.
However, you can avoid feeling helpless in such situations by educating yourself on the topic.
Here's what you need to know about the top choking hazards:
Foods:
- Hot dogs
- Hard candy
- Chewing gum
- Nuts and seeds
- Chunks of meat or cheese
- Whole grapes
- Popcorn
- Chunks of peanut butter
- Raw vegetables
- Raisins
Objects:
- coins
- buttons
- marbles
- small balls
- deflated balloons
- watch batteries
- jewelry
- ball point pen caps and paper clips
- arts and crafts supplies
- small toys and toys with small detachable parts
Always exercise extra caution when your child is consuming certain foods or around particular objects. Eliminating junk food from your child's diet will immediately reduce the risk by half.
How to Save a Choking Baby
This video guides you through three critical first aid steps to assist a choking baby. Employing these vital first aid techniques can significantly impact the outcome.
- Check The Mouth
- Slap It Out
- Squeeze It Out
If your baby falls unconscious at any time, you will need to perform CPR.
How To Give CPR To a Baby
The same creators of "The Chokeables," a campaign that raised awareness about first aid training, produced these videos.
Share this to disseminate the message and save lives!
Sources: dailyhealthpost - encyclopedia
