Hidden Dangers Of Choking

February 8, 2012

Interview with Nina Shapiro, M.D., author of the book Take a Deep Breath: Clear the Air for the Health of Your Child [1]

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Mike Carruthers:
In young children choking is one of the number 1 causes of accidental injury and death.

Dr. Nina Shapiro:
And most of those choking accidents are now occurring secondary to food and not toys.
 

Dr. Nina Shapiro, author of the book Take a Deep Breath [1]...

If you go to any toy store toys are going to be labeled; not for under 3, not for under 5 – and that’s all based on very important data saying that these toys are not safe for young children. If you go to the grocery store foods are not labeled. So, one of the things that we’re seeing on the rise is children are eating unsafe foods and they’re choking on them.

And what foods are kids choking on?

All the good stuff; peanuts, popcorn, lollipops, candy, gum – these are things that toddlers (and by toddlers I mean under 4 or 5) these kids really should not be eating them. Most kids run around when they’re eating, they also need to learn that eating is a stationery activity. Grapes are not safe, hotdogs are not safe - all of the sort of kid fun foods really should wait until they’re a little bit older.

A choking child is something you probably never think about until it happens to your child.

A child who has a foreign object in their airway whether it’s a piece of food or a toy they need to have general anesthesia – so it’s actually quite a risky procedure. One of the busiest nights I have every year is Halloween night because kids usually choke on candy. They eat the candy while they’re trick or treating, or while they’re in the car.

To hear the complete unedited interview, click here. [2]