Blog

Reduce Choking Hazards

posted by TrueNorth Risk Management on Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Did you know? 

According to Emory University, choking is the fourth leading cause of death for children under the age of 14 and results in approximately 159 deaths per year. Choking accidents are serious, as brain damage and death can occur if the brain goes without oxygen for more than four minutes. 

Reduce Choking Hazards

Keep your children safe by adhering to these choking prevention recommendations: 

• Do not give children under the age of four hard foods, and always supervise them during mealtime.
• Make sure that infants sit upright while they eat. 
• Mash up foods so that children can chew or gum them easily. 
• Instruct children to chew up their food before swallowing it. 
• Do not give children toys with small parts, and keep small household items out of reach.

These foods are potential choking hazards:

• Hot dogs (primary cause of food choking)
• Whole grapes
• Nuts and raisins
• Hard candies
• Popcorn

These household items are choking hazards: 

• Latex balloons
• Coins
• Small toy parts
• Marbles

Healthy Hints 

Educating yourself on how to execute the Heimlich maneuver can mean the difference between life and death during an emergency. Proper training is important as the technique used for adults and children differs from that used on infants. 

As always, TrueNorth is happy to assist you by providing comprehensive insurance and financial solutions for both home and business. Visit www.iTrueNorth.com or call (319) 739-1277 for an insurance quote to help safeguard the things that matter most to you.