A FIRST aid has identified choking dangers that every parent should be alert to.
When giving babies or young children new foods to try, it’s important to be wary of their shape and size.
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You should always accompany your child to eat so they can chew and swallow correctly.
Babies and children will explore many new things within a short time.
Just when they’ve got the hang of one food, it’s time to move them onto something a bit more grown up.
Within one year, they can go from eating blended purees and mashed soft foods to chunky and then finger foods.
Babies and young children are at greater risk of choking due to their smaller airways and inability to properly chew and swallow.
Choking is responsible for between 300 and 400 deaths annually in the UK. Around half of those killed are elderly people.
Children under 10 years old died due to choking in the past four decades. Most of these children were between one- and four years old when they started eating solid foods.
Raw veg, bread, crackers, rice cakes, hard boiled sweets, etc. are all major choking hazards.
TinyHeartsEducationA website and Instagram page run by Nikki Jurcutz, first aid, and Rach Jurcutz – showcased some of these dishes on a plate You can watch the video.
It said: “Truth is anything can be a choking hazard, so the most important thing is that you know choking first aid [read below].”
1. Nuts
Because nuts are more difficult to crush in the mouth, they pose a major choking risk.
Tiny Hearts suggests that you substitute crushed nuts for your raw nuts.
You can also use nut butter, but not a thick slice as it is sticky. It should not be eaten by itself.
The NHS includes: “Do not give whole nuts to children under five years old.”
2. Sausages or hot dogs
Give sausages to young children without cutting them into pieces. The perfect size for the child to swallow is 6.5 inches.
Tiny Hearts cut hot dogs into strips. This is also a recommendation by the NHS.
“Cut them in half and then lengthways, or as thinly as possible,”According to the NHS
“Peeling the skin off the sausages makes them easier to swallow.”
You can give protein to your child starting at six months.
3. Popcorn
Tiny Hearts recommends that corn puffs (such as Wotsits) be used in place of popcorn. This is one of most deadly choking hazards.
Popcorn can get stuck in the lungs and cause irritation.
Popcorn is not recommended for babies or young children.
As they age, usually around four to five years, they will be able to safely eat it.
4. Marshmallows
A marshmallow can get stuck in the airways if it is swallowed whole.
It can be difficult for children to swallow the sticky consistency when it is combined with saliva.
Tiny Hearts suggests that you cut marshmallows into small pieces for your child.
However, the NHS warns: “Do not give chewing gum or marshmallows to babies and young children.”
Children under 4 years of age should not be given sugary drinks or foods.
5. Large fruits
Fruit should be presented in small pieces, just like other foods.
This includes fruits like bananas, melon, and apples.
Tiny Hearts took the apple as an example, and it was sliced and gratified.
According to the NHS, you can also steam, mashing or simmering firm fruit.
Between the ages 7 and 9 months, harder fruits must be cooked in order to soften them for babies.
At ten months, they should be capable of eating mashed, chunky or chopped foods.
How to help your child choke if he or she chokes
It’s a parents worst nightmare to imagine a situation in which they have to save their child from choking.
But in that moment, it may be you that will have to step up and perform first aid.
The NHS says if you can see an object lodged in your child’s mouth, take care to remove it because blindly poking at it could make things worse.
Encourage your child to cough even if they aren’t feeling well. Keep them close to you.
If the coughing isn’t effective (it is silent or they cannot breathe properly), shout for help immediately.
If the child is still awake, you can use back blows.
First aiders at St John Ambulance give the following advice based on the child’s age.
Baby
- You can just slap it:
- Place the baby on your stomach and support their head.
- Give them five back blows, between their shoulder blades.
- Every time you turn them, check their mouths.
2. Take it out!
- Face the baby upwards and support it along your thighs.
- Two fingers should be placed in the middle of the chest, just below the nippleline. Push down to make five sharp chest thrusts
- Every time you check your mouth,
3. For emergency help, call 911 or 112 if your item is not loosening.
- Call the baby while you are gone
- Keep going with the previous steps until you receive help.
- Start CPR if the baby becomes unresponsive (unconscious)
Children
1. Take it out
- Encourage the casualty to keep coughing, if they can
2. It’s okay to whack it!
- You can support them by one hand and lean them forwards.
- Give five back blows between your shoulder blades.
- Always check their mouth but don’t touch their mouths.
3. You can squeeze it out
- With your arms wrapped around them, one fist between the bottom of your chest and their belly button, stand behind them.
- Grab the fist with the other hand, and pull inwards and upwards. You can do up to five abdominal thrusts.
- Always check their mouths
4. Call 999 or 112 for emergency help if the object does not dislodge
- Keep going with the previous steps until you get help.
- If the person is unresponsive or unconscious, you can start CPR.
5. If abdominal thrusts have been used, always seek medical advice
Choking is an issue for any child, even those below the age of 3.