Choking Episodes Among Children
Physical and developmental factors put children at risk for choking. Children who choke run the risk of death, permanent brain damage caused by lack of oxygen, or other complications associated with airway blockage. In 2001, thousands of children were treated in U.S. emergency departments for nonfatal choking episodes. CDC recently published findings from a study that examined nonfatal choking episodes among children in the United States. Read the entire article or the media fact sheet.
Quick Facts
- In 2000, 160 children ages 14 years or younger died from an obstruction of the respiratory tract due to inhaled or ingested foreign bodies. Of these, 41% were caused by food items and 59% by nonfood objects (CDC, unpublished data).
- For every choking-related death, there are more than 100 visits to U.S. emergency departments. In 2001, an estimated 17,537 children 14 years or younger were treated in U.S. emergency departments for choking episodes.
- Sixty percent of nonfatal choking episodes treated in emergency departments were associated with food items; 31% were associated with nonfood objects including coins; and in 9% of the episodes the substance was unknown or unrecorded.
- Candy was associated with 19% of all choking-related emergency department visits by children ages 14 years or younger; 65% were related to hard candy; and 12.5% were related to other specified types of candy (chocolate candy, gummy bears, gum, etc.). The type of candy was not specified in the remaining 22.5% of the cases. Candy was associated with 5% of all choking-related visits for infants less than one year of age; 25% of visits for children ages 1 to 4 years; and 28% of visits for children ages 5 to 14 years.
- Coins were involved in 18% of all choking-related emergency department visits for children ages 1 to 4 years.
- In 2001, 10.5% of children treated in the emergency department for choking episodes were admitted to the hospital or transferred to a facility with a higher level of care.
Injury Prevention Tips fo parents and Children
DisclaimerEvery child is at risk of choking. To reduce this risk, parents and caregivers can
- keep a watchful eye on their children when eating and playing;
- keep dangerous toys, foods, and household items out of reach; and
- learn how to provide early treatment for children who are choking.
To learn more about what you can do to prevent choking, follow these links:
- Consumer Product Safety Commission—Toy Safety Publications
- CDC—Toy-Related Injuries Among Children and Teenagers—United States, 1996
- American Medical Association—Preventing Common Household Accidents *
- American Academy of Pediatrics—Toddler’s Diet *
- National SAFE KIDS Campaign—Airway Obstruction *
- Wisconsin Medical Journal—Prevention of Choking, Strangulation, and Suffocation in Childhood *
Information about First Aid to Treat Choking
- Maternal Child Health Bureau/HRSA—The Right Care, When It Counts
- American Academy of Pediatrics—Pediatrician’s Role in Advocating Life Support Courses for Parents *
- American Academy of Pediatrics—Choking and CPR instructions for
- American Heart Association—Detailed information about first aid, CPR, and classes in your area *
- American Red Cross—Information about first aid, CPR, and babysitting classes *
References
CDC. Nonfatal choking-related episodes for children 0 to 14 years of age—United States, 2001. MMWR 2002.
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