McLeod Safe Kids Pee Dee/Coastal Offers Tips to Prevent Choking, Suffocation, and Strangulation

McLEOD SAFE KIDS 11 OCTOBER 2013

Like babies, young children are very curious about their environment and will touch, taste and smell just about anything. McLeod Safe Kids Pee Dee/Coastal offers the following safety tips to keep your home and play areas free of hazards that could choke, suffocate or strangle your children.

Choking

  • Keep small objects such as batteries, buttons, beads, marbles, coins and tacks out of reach (and sight).
  • Do not let children under age three eat small, round or hard foods, including small pieces of hot dogs, cheese sticks/chunks, hard candy, nuts, grapes and popcorn.
  • Buy only age-appropriate toys for your toddler. Use a small parts tester (or a toilet paper roll) to determine whether toys and objects in your home may present a choking hazard to young children.

Suffocation

  • Do not allow toddlers to sleep on couches, chairs, regular beds or other soft surfaces.
  • Never allow young children to play in poorly ventilated spaces such as laundry machines, car trunks and toy chests.

Strangulation

  • Tie up all window blind and drapery cords out of reach.
  • Avoid dressing children in necklaces, purses, scarves, helmets or clothing with drawstrings.

For more information on preventing childhood injury, please call McLeod Safe Kids Pee Dee/Coastal at (843) 777-5021 to speak to an Injury Prevention Specialist. You can also visit www.McLeodSafeKids.org or find the group on Facebook under McLeod Safe Kids.

McLeod Safe Kids Pee Dee/Coastal is funded in part by the McLeod Health Foundation.