Choking & Strangulation Safety

Did You Know…

Airway obstruction is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children younger than 1 year of age.
Among toddler aged children treated in emergency rooms for choking incidents, almost 60% were food-related, 13% involved swallowing coins or batteries and 19% involved candy or gum.
In 2019, more than 1,800 kids under age 6, swallowed button batteries.
One child, every 3 hours in the US, is treated in emergency rooms after swallowing a button battery.
Lithium, button batteries are commonly used in remote controls, toys, musical greeting cards, calculators and watches.

Cut food for toddlers into tiny pieces.
Children under 5, should not eat small, round or hard foods, including pieces of hot dog, cheese sticks or chunks, hard candy, nuts, grapes, marshmallows or popcorn.
Consider your child’s age when purchasing a toy or game and check to make sure there aren’t any small parts or other potential choking hazards.
Keep small magnets away from children.
Keep cords and strings, including those attached to window blinds, out of your child’s reach.
Keep button, lithium batteries out of sight and reach of children.
Share this life-saving information with caregivers, friends, family members and sitters. It only takes a minute and it could save a life.
Check homes for small objects children can choke on.