According to the Consumer Product Safety commission, 292 children suffered toy-related deaths in the last fifteen years, and a whopping 57% of these were due to choking and subsequent asphyxia. The highest number of choking deaths came from balloons, balls, and toy parts, and the majority of these were in children under five.
When selecting toys for young kids, it’s important to take this potential hazard into consideration. According to KidsHealth.org , a good rule of thumb is that a toy should be at least 1.75 inches (4.4 centimeters) in diameter if it is going to be given to a small child (i.e. under three years of age). Concerned parents can also use a small-parts tester , also known as a choke tube, to test the size of toys and small parts.
The tube is designed to be roughly the same size as a small child’s windpipe. If a toy or toy part fits into the tube, it is too small and should be considered a dangerous choking hazard to children under three years of age.
They are available for purchase, but it’s just as easy and effective to use an empty toilet paper or paper towel tube. These cardboard tubes are actually slightly larger in diameter than a small-parts tester, so they may actually rule out more hazards than the pricier, plastic versions. (As an added bonus, it’s also more environmentally friendly. Yay, recycling!)
The worst offender in these choking cases seems to be deflated balloons. They accounted for 69 of the 292 total toy-related deaths, and 41.5% of the deaths by choking and asphyxiation. Children love balloons, but once the air is let out or the balloon bursts, the latex material can easily be swallowed by small children and can become lodged in the throat. For this reason, balloons should never be given to babies or toddlers unless they will be directly supervised the entire time they have it.
One of the most important thing parents can do to prevent toy-related choking injuries is to be active in choosing kids’ toys. Some helpful guidelines:
- Read the labels. Toys are marked for specific age groups, so make sure you are buying toys that are age-appropriate for your child
- Check for size. Make sure squeaky toys, rattles, and teethers are large enough that they cannot be fully inserted into a child’s mouth. Make sure these toys cannot be squeezed or compressed into a smaller size, as well.
- Watch out for removable parts. These must also be large enough not to be inserted into the mouth or lodged in the throat.
- Check the eyes and noses of plush toys to be sure that they are not easily broken off. These present a very real danger if they become detached and swallowed.
And, as I point out in the general safety page , you should always, ALWAYS supervise your child’s playtime. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as my dear old grandma says.
Now, just in case a choking incident occurs, you’ll want to make sure you are able to respond appropriately. The Heimlich Maneuver is the best method to use, but there are two different ways to do it, depending on a child’s age. WebMD has two very well-done pages on the different methods:
As always, if you need any more information on this or any of the other safety hazards and how they can be prevented, e-mail me at toygeek(@)toygeekblog(dotcom).
