{"id":2112,"date":"2022-11-30T21:52:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-30T21:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/bromley\/?p=2112"},"modified":"2022-11-30T21:52:00","modified_gmt":"2022-11-30T21:52:00","slug":"the-12-choking-dangers-of-christmas-revealed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/bromley\/the-12-choking-dangers-of-christmas-revealed\/","title":{"rendered":"The 12 choking dangers of Christmas – Revealed"},"content":{"rendered":"

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), one child, on average, dies from choking every month in the UK, with hundreds more needing medical treatment.\u00a0<\/strong>Choking occurs when a patient\u2019s airway becomes blocked, causing an inability to breathe. Children have especially narrow airways, which heightens their risk of choking.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

As Christmas is approaching fast, so is the excess of snacks, small toys, excitement and family gatherings. With this in mind, the education experts at\u00a0Skillstg.co.uk<\/a>\u00a0have listed the top 12 choking hazards for children, as well as revealing how to dislodge food from a baby or young child who appears to be choking.<\/p>\n

1. Popcorn<\/strong><\/p>\n

Popcorn is a delicious snack enjoyed safely by many. It is recommended, however, that children do not eat popcorn until they are fully able to chew and swallow properly, at age four or five. Popcorn has a shape and texture that is very likely to get caught in the airways, not to mention the lightweight that allows it to be inhaled easily.<\/p>\n

2. Marshmallows<\/strong><\/p>\n

Marshmallows pose a serious choking hazard for small children. When mixed with saliva, the consistency of the marshmallow becomes sticky and challenging for a young chewer to swallow.<\/p>\n

3. Boiled sweets<\/strong><\/p>\n

Boiled sweets can easily become lodged in a child\u2019s airways and will not dissolve quickly or melt as chocolate would. This sweet should be avoided completely for young children.<\/p>\n

4. Gummy sweets<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gummy bears and other jelly-textured chewy sweets can easily be swallowed whole, posing a choking hazard.<\/p>\n

5. Chunks of cheese<\/strong><\/p>\n

Christmas is the time of year when many cheese boards are being passed around to family members, but parents of young children should be wary of this snack. Chunks or cubes of cheese can easily become wedged in the back of a child\u2019s throat due to its hard texture.<\/p>\n

6. Crackers and Rice cakes<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rice cakes and crackers can be quite dangerous for young children due to their coarse texture and dryness. Inexperienced chewers will struggle to break down these snacks easily, making them a choking hazard. In addition to this, the edges of these two snacks can become quite sharp and damage the inside of the throat.<\/p>\n

7. Raw fruit and veg<\/strong><\/p>\n

Baby carrots, whole cherry tomatoes, and grapes are choking hazards for young children due to their size. Make sure to cut these up into small chunks to avoid choking.<\/p>\n

8. Whole or chopped nuts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Parents should avoid feeding young children whole and chopped nuts. Nuts require very thorough chewing that children of five years and under cannot yet master.<\/p>\n

9. Dried fruit<\/strong><\/p>\n

Raisins and other dried fruits can be very sticky and hard to chew for young children. These should be chopped up small to avoid choking.<\/p>\n

10. Sausages\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pigs in blankets are sure to appear at most Christmas dinners this year, but the tough skin and awkward shape pose a serious choking hazard to children. Sausages and pigs in blankets should be chopped into small pieces if given to a child under four years old.<\/p>\n

11. Christmas cracker toys<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cracker toys are often made from small parts that can be a choking hazard to young children. Child-friendly Christmas crackers can be found online as a safer alternative.<\/p>\n

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12. Toy packaging<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chunks of polystyrene, plastic and any small parts can be a choking hazard to a child. Make sure to have a family member do a constant sweep of rubbish when people are opening their presents.<\/p>\n

What to do if a child under 1 year is choking\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first step is to check the mouth; if you can see the blockage at the back of the throat, sweep the object using your finger.\u00a0However, if the blockage is not visible, don\u2019t try to finger sweep, as you might push it further.<\/p>\n

The British Red Cross recommends the following steps for a choking baby.<\/p>\n

1: Give Up to Five Back Blows<\/strong><\/p>\n