How to prevent choking, suffocation and strangulation

As young children explore their surroundings, they often put objects in their mouths - turning everyday items into potential choking hazards. It's important parents and caregivers are aware as choking is one of the leading causes of injury and death among young children, especially those under five.

Fortunately, choking is largely preventable. By making a few changes at home and learning safe practices, you can greatly reduce your little one’s risk.

What are the main causes of choking?

• Foods that are hard, round, large or sticky such as nuts and hard candy.
• Household items like small toys, buttons and coins.

An important note on safe sleep: Babies who sleep in an adult bed face higher risk of suffocation from pillows, blankets or a parent’s body.

> Learn more about safe sleep

Tips to prevent choking

Practice food safety

• Cut food into very small, manageable pieces. Grapes and cherry tomatoes should be sliced lengthwise.
• Avoid giving young children nuts, hard candy or popcorn.
• Encourage older children to eat slowly and chew properly.
• Always supervise meals.
• Children should eat sitting down, not while running, walking or lying down.

Create a safe home environment

• Check toys for size and shape and avoid ones with small parts.
• Keep small objects like coins, batteries and jewellery out of reach.
• Remove drawstrings from children’s clothing and hoods.
• Keep cribs away from windows with blinds or drapes.
• Tie up or shorten cords on curtains and blinds.
• Never let children play with or inflate latex balloons, as they can block airways if swallowed.

> Read: How to babyproof your home

Follow safe sleep practices

• Always place babies on their backs to sleep, on a firm mattress with no pillows, blankets or stuffed toys.
• Do not share a bed with your baby.

> Read about SIDS and how to reduce your baby’s risk

Children with disabilities and choking

Choking can happen to anyone at any age, but children with special needs are particularly vulnerable. If your child tends to mouth objects, take special care to keep these objects locked away and out of reach.

How to prepare for a choking emergency

Even with precautions, emergencies can happen. Find and take a basic first aid course near you to learn how to respond if a child is choking and encourage older children to take one too. Knowing how to perform back blows and chest thrusts for infants and abdominal thrusts for older children can save a life.

Signs your baby is choking

• Unable to cry
• Can’t make noise
• Inability to cough
• Not able to breathe

What to do if your baby is choking

If your baby is choking, follow these steps:

Step 1
Give up to five back blows: Hold the baby face-down along your thigh with their head lower than their bottom. Hit them firmly on their back between the shoulder blades up to five times. If back blows do not dislodge the blockage, move on to step 2.

Step 2
If they are still choking, give up to five chest thrusts: Turn the baby over so they are facing upwards. Place two fingers in the middle of their chest just below the nipples. Push sharply downwards up to five times.

Step 3
If they are still choking, call emergency services and repeat the steps until they can breathe again or help arrives.

> See step-by-step images from the British Red Cross

Signs your child is choking

• Clutching their neck or chest
• Unable to breathe or cough
• Can’t speak

What to do if your child is choking

If your child is choking, follow these steps:

Step 1
Give up to five back blows: Hit them firmly on their back between the shoulder blades. If back blows do not dislodge the object, move on to step 2.

Step 2
Give up to five abdominal thrusts: Hold the child around the waist and pull inwards and upwards above their belly button.

Step 3
If they are still choking, call emergency services until the blockage dislodges or help arrives.

> Watch videos of each step from the British Red Cross

By supervising children closely, creating a safe home environment and practicing safe sleep, you can significantly reduce the risks of choking.