Choking in Young Children

According to a Policy Statement released by the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, published on February 22, 2010, Choking is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children, especially those aged 3 years or younger. Some of the primary causes of choking-related injury and death are food, coins and toys. The statement goes on to say that certain characteristics including shape, size and consistency, of certain toys and food increase their potential to cause choking among children.

The statement goes on to say that "Despite a strong gag reflex, a young child’s airway is more vulnerable to obstruction than that of an adult in several ways. The smaller diameter is more likely to experience significant blockage by small foreign bodies. Resistance to air flow is inversely related to the radius of the airway to the fourth power, so even small changes in the cross-section of the airway of a young child can lead to dramatic changes in airway resistance and air flow.

Mucus and secretions around a foreign body in the airway will reduce the radius of the airway even further and may also form a seal around the foreign body, making it more difficult to dislodge by forced air, such as with a cough or Heimlich maneuver. The force of air generated by a cough in an infant or young child is less than that in an adult; therefore, a cough may be less effective in dislodging a complete or partial airway obstruction during early childhood."

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
conducted an analysis of nonfatal choking episodes among children aged 14 years or younger treated in US hospital emergency departments during 2001 on the basis of data reported through the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System–All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP). Of an estimated 17 537 children aged 14 years or younger who were treated for nonfatal choking, more than half (59.5%) were treated for food-related choking, approximately one third (31.4%) were treated for choking on nonfood items, and the cause of choking for the remaining 9.1% was unknown. Almost 13% of all these choking episodes were associated with coins, and 19% were caused by candy or gum. These findings are similar to those reported in a comparative retrospective analysis of foreign-body–related injuries to children from 1920 –1932 and 1988 –2000, confirming that food and coins are the most common foreign bodies." For more information see Official Journal of American Academy of Pediatrics.

Taking Care of Yourself


Taking care of yourself is getting to be more and more important. As we age, the chances of disease increase. And our medical cares is not set up for prevention. As great as our US medical care system is, the system's focus in on disease management, not prevention.
To help stay healthier longer, we have to take responsibility for our health and make healthy choices for food, lifestyle, sleep, and attitude among others. How do we find answers to make those choices easier and lasting?
1. First of all, we have to educate ourselves. Read as much as we can on health, healthy lifestyles, healthy eating, healthy exercises. Education is power.
2. And when we combine knowledge with good choices we can enjoy healthier living. Making good choices becomes easier as we see results.
3. Reward good changes. Find ways to celebrate those good changes and the results those changes bring.
4. Keep records of what your health issues are and how they are changed as your eating, exercise and lifestyle changes impact your health in positive measures.

Realize that changes in health can be subtle. Little things such as sleeping better, longer may not be noticed, but that change can make a big difference in how we feel each day, our mood, our ability to concentrate, make decisions and more. So keep a diary for 6 months or a year and record those positive changes and the affects those little shifts in lifestyle have on your overall health! Stay Well! Elise