Help! My child is choking

For little children, the act of crawling, walking, touching and putting things in their mouths means exploring the world they live in.
This leads to an increased risk of choking, and parents or adults should remain vigilant.
Choking happens when an object, often a piece of food, gets stuck in the airway.
Young children and babies are likely to choke on food or something they have put into their mouths.
Tips on how to prevent children from choking:
• Supervise young children while eating. Insist that children eat sitting quietly, preferably at the table. They should never run, play or lie down with food in their mouths.
• Don’t give a small child large chunks of food that could break off and obstruct the airway. Rather provide soft food.
• Beware of older children’s actions. Many choking accidents occur when older siblings give dangerous foods, toys or small objects to a younger child. Check toys for small detachable parts. Follow age recommendations on toy packages.
• Cut foods for infants and young children into pieces under 2cm. Teach them to chew well.
• Before a child begins to crawl, go down on his level and look for dangerous items. Balloons and coins pose a big choking risk. Check under furniture and between cushions for small items.