What to do if a Child is choking
Nearly all children who choke on non-food items are under five years of age. Young children place just about all objects in their mouths as a means of exploring the world around them.
Generally, any object that fits inside a 35mm film canister (or the size of a ping pong ball / 50c piece) can be a choking hazard. Particularly hazardous objects include:
Buttons
Batteries
Coins
Toys that contain small parts
Pieces that can break off toys
Keep older children’s toys away from young children. This may mean separate play areas for children of different ages. If children are under three, they should have toys labelled ‘suitable for children under three’. These labels are not a sign of intelligence, they are there to indicate the age appropriateness of the product. Pen tops have been associated with a number of choking deaths. Some manufacturers are now making pens that include breathing holes on the pen top. Marking pens can also cause problems. Some leading suppliers also produce marking pens with safety tops.
Prevention
Supervision of young children is essential during the stage they test everything by placing it into their
mouth. Check children’s play and access areas regularly for small, potential choking objects.
Buy toys that are suitable for the age group. Toys that can break
easily and have parts that can come loose should be avoided.
Check and maintain children’s toys regularly.
What to do if a Child is choking
Check first to see if the child is able to cough, cry and breathe.
If the child is breathing, they may be able to dislodge the food by coughing. Do not hit the child on the back because this can dislodge food to a more dangerous position. Stay with the child. If the child’s breathing has not improved within a few minutes, telephone for an ambulance.
If the child is not breathing, place the child face down over your lap so that the child’s head is lower than the child’s chest and give four sharp blows on the back between the shoulder blades. This should dislodge the food. If the child is still not breathing, for an ambulance service operator. The ambulance service operator will tell you what to do next.