Topic - Preventing Choking In Children. Kids younger than 5 have no molars and their ability to swallow is uncoordinated creating a choking hazard.
Their airways, which are the size of a pinky finger and are high up in the neck, give food direct access to their windpipe.
What to do?
Cut up hot dogs into quarter moon shapes; peel grapes and cut into quarters; spread peanut butter thinly, and cut cooked vegetables into small pieces.
Avoid dried fruit, chunks of meat and cheese, nuts, popcorn, hard sticky candy, and gum.
Eating should be an activity unto itself. Children should be sitting up, not running around or eating in the car. They should be supervised at all times and food shouldn’t be a babysitter.
If your child chokes and then, seems fine, the object can still be a threat. See your pediatrician immediately.
Be prepared. Check with your local hospital for first aid classes where they teach the Heimlich maneuver and CPR for children.
