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| The following is a partial listing of foods and other materials
that pose a choking hazard for children. These substances have a high risk
of being aspirated (inhaled into the lungs) or lodged in the esophagus
and compressing the throat from behind. This list is incomplete, as kids
are choking on new things every day, but does include the foods and foreign
bodies most often reported by emergency room physicians. Dr. Tomares
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| FOOD | AGE GROUP |
HAZARD |
| Nuts | Under age 5 | Extreme risk for aspiration. Causes rapid and severe damage to airways. Avoid! |
| Hard Candies | Under age 5 | Often aspirated, especially in toddlers. |
| Hot Dogs | Under age 5 | Whole, they often lodge in the esophagus and compress (block) the airway. Cut into pieces, avoid in kids without molars. |
| Raw Carrots | Under age 5 | Hard to chew and easily inhaled. |
| Popcorn | Under age 5 | Very light and VERY easily inhaled! |
| Grapes | Under age 5 | Whole, they may lodge in the esophagus and compress (block) the airway. Cut into pieces, avoid in kids without molars. |
| Raisins | Under age 3 | Aspirated in toddlers without molars. |
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Hint: Tell children that they can have these foods when they can spell them! |
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| OBJECT | AGE GROUP | HAZARD |
| Small Parts | Under age 5 | Small toy parts are an extreme risk for aspiration, especially when made of light plastic. |
| Coins | Under age 5 | Coins, often sucked on, get lodged in the esophagus and can compress the airways. |
| Balloons | All ages | Deflated balloons may be inhaled and should be thrown away, and kept away from kids. |
| Jewelry | Under age 6 | Small pieces present a choking hazard |
| Button Batteries | All ages | If aspirated or swallowed, they may cause chemical erosion and be potentially fatal. |
| Nails, Screws | All ages | Another, not infrequent foreign body. Keep small tools away from kids. |
| Safety Pins | Under age 6 | Occasionally aspirated in young children. |
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