Bike and Pedestrian Safety

Choking, Suffocation and Strangulation Prevention

In 2001, 864 children ages 14 and under died from unintentional airway obstruction injuries including choking, suffocation, strangulation and entrapment. Of these children, nearly 90 percent were ages four and under.

Child eating cookie

In 2001, 169 children ages 14 and under died from choking (food and nonfood items). The majority of childhood choking injuries and deaths are associated with food items; however, non-food items, such as coins, small balls and balloons are also hazards for young children. Since 1973, more than 110 children have died from balloon-related suffocation.

Since 1985, 22 children have died from entangled children's clothing drawstrings, most often the hood/neck drawstrings. More than half of drawstring entanglement incidents involved playground slides.

Canadian Statistics: Between 1997 and 1998, 49 children have died as a result of choking, suffocation, and strangulation incidents, and an additional 27 have been hospitalized.

Choking occurs when food or small objects block the airway. This prevents oxygen from getting to the lungs and the brain. Young children are at risk from choking on small, round foods such as hot dogs, candies, nuts, grapes, marshmallows and popcorn.

S hook example Children should avoid wearing drawstrings or necklaces on the playground. Clothing, scarves, mittens, jacket strings and jacket hoods can get caught in narrow gaps, openings or holes on slides, vertical posts, and on open connecting links such as "S" hooks.

Dinner Time Message

Placemat example Let your children know that eating is serious business. Create fun placemats with them that contain key choking prevention messages. You can also inexpensively laminate them at a local printing shop. This is a great way to remind your children to:

only put food in their mouths
take small bites
chew food thoroughly
not run or play while eating

"No-Choke Tester"

No Choke Tester example Inspect your children's toys and identify choking hazards. You can test for choking hazards by seeing if toys fit through an empty toilet paper roll. If they do, they're too small to be played with safely. Children can decorate their "no-choke tester" with pictures, stickers or their names. Toys with choking hazards should be kept away from babies, toddlers and young children.

Data Sources: Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Health Canada, National SAFE KIDS Campaign®, Safe Kids Canada.