‘Choking on even a hot dog’

"Choking on even a hot dog"This was a striking insight from one of the parents who attended the EHBO workshop yesterday. A hot dog is one of the notorious choking hazards for babies and children. In this blog, you will read why and what you can do best to prevent this.

Statistics
Food is the number one cause of a choking incident. Coins are in second place, and balloons or other toys are third.
Most children admitted in the Netherlands due to a choking incident are under 1 year old. However, choking still occurs in children who already have their teeth and molars. In 2012, 110 children (aged 0-5 years) were admitted in the Netherlands due to a choking incident.

Why is a hot dog (cherry tomato or grape) particularly risky?
A hot dog is the same size as a child's windpipe. Additionally, the shape of a hot dog is cylindrical, which can completely block the windpipe. The structure of a hot dog is malleable, making it more likely to get stuck in the windpipe and harder to dislodge. Soft compressible food more often leads to the death of a child than hard food.

How can you prevent choking?
1. Teach your child to chew properly (even if they already have all their teeth and molars)
2. Teach your child not to talk and eat at the same time or not to walk around and eat at the same time. This increases the chance of choking.
3. If you give your child a hot dog, grape, or cherry tomato, cut it in half (lengthwise) and preferably into quarters.
4. Stay with your child while they eat because if your child chokes, you won't hear it.
5. Seek information as a parent or caregiver so that you know how to act if your child chokes and take a first aid course.

Source: 'Watch Out, Be Careful', authors: F. Slee and M. Vehmeijer