Choking is one of the most common causes of infant deaths. More than 15,000 infants and children enter the emergency department every year for chocking-related incidents.

As children explore their environment, they are bound to put objects in their mouths that can increase the risk of choking.

Here are some tips that can reduce the risk of your child from choking.

1. Keep Small Items Out of Reach

You should keep small items out of children’s reach. Keep in mind that any item that is smaller than a D-size battery represents a choking hazard for a child. Some items that represent a choking hazard include the following:

  • Magnets
  • Latex balloon
  • Cigarette butts
  • Figurines
  • Buttons
  • Rings
  • Batteries
  • Erasers/sharpeners/small stationery items

You should keep the above mentioned objects out of children’s reach — such as in high cabinets with child safety locks. Also, you should not give nuts, grapes, and corn chips to children who are below the age of three.

2. Buy Age Appropriate Toys

When buying a toy, you should look at the label to see if it’s appropriate for your kid. Avoid giving a toy to your child that is not recommended for the age. According to WebMD, the safest toys for small children are those that are at least 3 cm in length. Buying an appropriate toy is important to prevent a choking hazard.

3. Tell Your Child to Sit When They’re Eating

Your child is more likely to choke when running around while eating. You should tell your child to sit down when eating. If you sit while feeding your child, he or she will be less likely to get up and run around.

4. Inspect Old Toys

You should inspect old toys regularly to ensure that they are not a choking hazard. Look for loose or damaged parts. This is important even if the toy is appropriate for the child. A stuffed toy can become a choking hazard if your child tears off a piece while mouthing it. Any toy that is torn, cracked, or broken should be thrown out or kept away to avoid any choking hazard.

What to Do in Case of an Emergency?

In case your child has turned blue due to choking on an object, you should call the emergency number. Next, you should check whether the child is breathing and if there is a pulse. If neither is detected, you should immediately perform cardiopulmonary recitation (CPR).

In case you don’t know how to perform CPR, you should enroll in a CPR certification online class. Learning about CPR is vital for any parent. Studies have shown that administering CPR can increase odds of a person surviving by more than 40 percent.

By enrolling in an online CPR class, you will learn about how to provide emergency assistance to a choking or drowning victim. You can learn about the correct procedure to perform this life-saving technique on infants and adults.