According to the American Red Cross, the first stage in the cardiac chain of survival for children and infants is prevention. The New York Health Department says on their website, "At least one child dies from choking on food every five days in the U.S., and more than 12,000 children are taken to a hospital emergency room each year for food-choking injuries."
The United States Department of Agriculture’s put together a list of choking hazards for young children that include but are not limited to:
Fruits and Vegetables
Cooked or raw whole corn kernels
Uncut cherry or grape tomatoes
Pieces of hard raw vegetables or fruit, such as raw carrots or apples
Whole pieces of canned fruit
Uncut grapes, berries, cherries, or melon balls
Uncooked dried vegetables or fruit, such as raisins
Grains
Cookies or granola bars
Potato or corn chips, pretzels, popcorn, or similar snack foods
Crackers or breads with seeds, nut pieces, or whole grain kernels
Whole grain kernels of cooked barley, wheat, or other grains
Plain wheat germ
Whole or chopped nuts and seeds
Chunks or spoonfuls of nut and seed butters, such as peanut butter
Tough or large chunks of meat
Proteins
Hot dogs, meat sticks, or sausages
Large chunks of cheese, especially string cheese
Bones in meat or fish
Whole beans
Sweet and Sticky Foods
Round or hard candy, jelly beans, caramels, gum drops, or gummy candies
Chewy fruit snacks
Chewing gum
Marshmallows
"At least one child dies from choking on food every five days in the U.S., and more than 12,000 children are taken to a hospital emergency room each year for food-choking injuries." - New York Health Department
A good rule of thumb:
Avoid servings food bigger then a nickel
Always cut tube shaped food (i.e. hot dogs, cheese sticks, grapes)
Avoid food that are sticky ( i.e. gum, marshmallows,
Avoid foods that can break into smaller chunks (i.e. cookies and granola bars)
More information on food safety can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at the following link. United States Department of Agriculture has created a pamphlet as well on how to reduce the risk of choking in young children at mealtimes.
