Child Choking Hazard

Children under the age of four have a high risk of choking on food and small objects. Because they have a narrow airway and have not fully developed the teeth and muscles for chewing food on their own, young children may easily choke on even seemingly small chunks of food. Parents with small children should take care to follow general safety precautions to minimize the risk of a choking accident.

Common Choking Hazards

Parents should take care to keep all small objects away from young children until they are about four years old. Small toys and even toys with small parts could become a choking danger. In general, if an object can fit in a child's mouth, he or she may choke on it. Everyday household objects such as coins, marbles, bouncy balls, paperclip, and batteries can be a hazard.

Also, coarsely chopped foods and hard, round foods are difficult for children to swallow. These include: candy, popcorn, nuts and seeds, chunks of meat, cheese, fruit, and vegetables.

Child Safety and Choking Prevention

In the home, parents can take several steps to help keep their children safe from choking accidents:

Child Injury Claims

Even with these precautions accidents can occur, because other adults, teachers, or caregivers may not take the same precautions around your child as you would.

If your child has suffered from a choking accident caused by another's negligence, and this led to severe injury, then you and your child may be eligible for compensation, including to cover the costs of medical bills, lost wages from taking time off work, and other damages.

In the case of serious child injury, consider contacting an experienced and caring personal injury attorney at our law firm to determine if a child injury claim exists in your situation.