Practically any solid food poses the risk of choking. Children are also prone to putting small objects in their mouths and they can choke on them as well. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does take action against foods that do pose an unusual risk of choking. It is impossible for the FDA to control all the foods but they have released a guide for parents to help reduce the chances of choking. Every child is at risk for choking, particularly younger children because they place different objects in their mouth. Young children often cannot chew properly and they have narrow airways. A person is choking when food or an object is caught in the throat and it blocks the airway, preventing oxygen from getting into the lungs and to the brain. Brain damage can occur when the body goes without oxygen for more than 4 minutes.

Parents need to look at the objects in their home that their children could choke on. Small objects, like peanuts are easy for adults to swallow but it is a life-threatening hazard to small children. Preschool-aged children do not have all of their molars in and they are unable to grind food at the back of their mouth before they swallow it. When the food passes by the teeth and gets to the back of the jaw, the body swallows it. Children can choke if they swallow the food too quickly because it may not lead to a proper swallow. If a child is talking while they are eating, they are prone to choking because the food can be inhaled.

In addition to removing objects from your home that could cause choking, you need to keep an eye on your child. When they are eating food, watch them to make sure they are chewing their food before they swallow it. Teach your children how to properly chew their food. Always make sure your children are sitting while eating food, as lying down or moving while eating can lead to choking.

Know what types of foods are acceptable for young children. Avoid giving a child under the age of 4 any food that is round and firm. Always cut the food into smaller pieces that are no larger than one-half inch. Children under age 4 do not have a full set of teeth and they are unable to break down the solid chunks of food like older children can. If you have older children, teach them not to give their siblings small objects. Do not allow them to play with small toys or chew on foods that they can choke on. There have been several deaths due to chocking on other objects like un-inflated balloon pieces and plastic. Always throw away plastic materials and un-inflated balloons.

Over-the-counter medications and prescription medications also pose a potential choking hazard for children. If you take vitamins and other pills, make sure they are placed in an area where your children cannot get to them. If your child needs to take medications, ask their doctor to prescribe liquid medications or ask them if you can crush the pills. When parents are aware of the potential choking hazards in their home, it is easier to take precautions to protect their children.

Even with all the safety precautions, children may still choke on something. It is important for parents to understand what to do if their child is choking. All parents need to know the basic choking rescue procedures in order to save their child's life. If you do not know how to perform the Heimlich maneuver or CPR on children, contact your local Red Cross Chapter and sign up for Community CPR and First Aid training classes. All parents should know the Heimlich maneuver, CPR, and Rescue breathing. The Heimlich maneuver is known around the world as the life-saving measure to use to dislodge food or foreign objects from air passages. The Heimlich maneuver is different on infants than it is on adults. For preschoolers and elementary-aged children, you need to stand or kneel behind them and place your hands around their waist. Make a fist with one hand and place your thumb toward them, just above their belly button. Grab your fist with your other hand and make 5 upward thrusts/squeezes into the abdomen. The thrust needs to be strong enough to dislodge the food or foreign object from the throat. Repeat the Heimlich maneuver until the victim is no longer choking. Some people can become unconscious if the Heimlich maneuver is not effective, hopefully medical experts will have arrived before this happens.

If you have been able to remove the foreign object from the throat and the child stops breathing or they do not have a pulse, you will need to perform CPR. Using CPR allows oxygen to enter the body and it helps to move the oxygenated blood to the heart, causing a pulse to resume. Check the child for un-responsiveness and tilt their head back and begin rescue breathing. Pinch their nose and cover their mouth with yours. Blow into their mouth until you see the chest rise and give 2 breaths. Each breath should last at least 1 second. If they are unresponsive after rescue breathing, begin chest compressions. Push down on their chest, in between the nipples. Interlock your fingers and push down at the rate of 100 compressions per minute. You need to alternate chest compressions and rescue breathing until medical experts arrive or until the child resumes consciousness.

It is easy to become scared and stressed when your child is choking. Many parents panic and it takes a few moments before they remember what to do. By taking training courses before your child has choking problems, you will be prepared to deal with the situation. Teach your child what to do if they are choking on something. Show them how to place their hands over their neck and catch the attention of another person, preferably an adult. If your child is alone and they start to choke, they may not understand that they could perform the Heimlich maneuver on themselves. Older children, age 10 and up may be able to understand how to perform the Heimlich maneuver on themselves. Your child will need to find a hard surface, like a table edge and ram their stomach into it to push air out of the diaphragm and dislodge the object from the throat. Elementary-aged children will be taught the Heimlich maneuver at school and they will even be able to practice it on dolls with medical supervision.

The first thing you can do if your child is choking is to open their mouth and remove any object still in their mouth. Curl your finger and just make a sweep through their mouth. Then, get behind your child and begin performing the Heimlich maneuver until their airway is cleared. Once the object is cleared and they are able to breathe again, check to see that the entire object came out of the throat. Many people can have infections from particles of foreign objects that got stuck in the throat and even in the lungs. Take your child to the doctor if they experience any pain and have a doctor check their throat and lungs for infections.

By knowing the proper rescue procedures, parents may be able to save their children's lives. Parents should also keep their house clean and clear of small objects that children could choke on. If you have young children, keep some food away from them. The American Academy of Pediatrics has developed a list of potential hazardous foods for children under the age of 4, here are a few that you need to be aware of:

• Hot dogs
• Grapes
• Popcorn
• Sticky, gooey, or hard candy
• Nuts and seeds
• Raisins
• Gum
• The American Academy also has provided a listing of hazardous objects you need to keep away from infants and children:
• Balloons
• Plastic
• Marbles
• Coins
• Small balls and bells
• Toys with small parts
• Marker and pen caps
• Round batteries

Take your child to a first aid class with you and explain to them about choking and what to do. If your child understands the dangers of choking, they will be able to signal you if they begin to choke. Normally people start to cough when they start to choke on something, although this can cause the object to drop lower into the throat. If you notice your child is coughing a lot, watch them closely to make sure they aren't choking. Do not perform the Heimlich if the child is speaking or coughing. If they cannot speak, cough, or cry, you need to start the Heimlich maneuver.

It is important to try and remain calm, to keep the child calm. Reassure them that you are going to help them and kneel or stand behind them and perform the Heimlich maneuver. Once the object has been dislodged from their throat, hug the child and comfort them. Choking is a scary thing for anyone and it can cause some children to become hysterical for a few minutes. If you are alone with the child and the Heimlich maneuver doesn't work after about a minute, call 911 immediately and then continue performing the Heimlich maneuver until help arrives.