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Most of us are aware that the entrance to the respiratory tract is located near the entrance to the esophagus - the same tube through which food substances we ingest are directed into the stomach
What not everyone knows is that the third leading cause of injury and death among children up to the age of five is choking - obstruction of the airway caused by the entry of foreign bodies into it. Complete or partial blockage of the airway can lead to a problem in the regular supply of oxygen to the body's systems and may result in suffocation and even death.
During normal swallowing, the throat covering closes the entrance to the airway and prevents food or foreign bodies from entering it. In addition, there are two reflexes designed to prevent choking - the cough reflex and the gag reflex. Despite these defense mechanisms, choking due to a foreign body is very common, especially in young children.
One of the main reasons for the prevalence of throat choking in children is that their chewing and swallowing abilities are not fully developed, and therefore food may be aspirated into the airway. Infants and young children tend to put everything in their mouths as part of their normal developmental process. Additionally, the airway of children under the age of three is very narrow, making them prone to choking easily on small foods or objects. Preventing choking in young children primarily involves supervision and attention to the foods and objects they put into their mouths. Maintaining a safe environment and basic feeding practices can prevent fatalities.
It is important to raise awareness that the best treatment for choking in children is prevention! It is important to adhere to a routine that includes following safe feeding practices and protecting their environment. Remember and remind all caregivers that round or hard foods such as grapes, hot dogs, olives, apples, carrots, popcorn, nuts, candies, etc., can easily become lodged in the lungs during eating, posing a significant choking hazard. There is also a significant risk with small toys such as marbles, Legos, blocks, and any toys with small parts that toddlers may put in their mouths.
Infants and young children should be kept away from small toys and objects. As a rule of thumb - any object that can fit into a surprise egg box can cause choking in children. Many children's toys break into small parts, and even those should be handled with caution. Pay special attention to items that are scattered around the house, such as coins, small batteries, and other everyday items. There are products defined in advance as hazardous, and parents and caregivers should be aware of restrictions on them. For example, magnetic toys can cause severe injury to various organs, beyond the choking hazard itself. Therefore, children under the age of five should be prevented from playing with magnetic toys. Also, balloon fragments and uninflated balloons are considered common choking hazards, and children should be kept away from them until the age of eight. Other products, such as playdough, are not considered particularly hazardous, but it is important to ensure that they do not contain toxic substances.
First of all, it is important to identify the situation and understand that the child is choking on a foreign body. A choking child may be unable to speak, often grasping at their throat, may make wheezing sounds in an attempt to breathe, and may exhibit increasing respiratory distress in the chest area. In some cases, a bluish coloration may be observed on the lips and fingertips, and ultimately, the child may become unconscious. If the child is coughing loudly and can still speak, no action should be taken. The strong cough should help the body dislodge the obstruction on its own! Back blows do not help clear the obstruction and can sometimes worsen the condition.
Even if the foreign body is still lodged in the airway, but the child can still breathe normally, attempts should not be made to remove the object artificially, for fear that the object will only go deeper. In such a case, the child should be seated and encouraged to cough. If coughing does not clear the foreign body, the child should be promptly taken to the hospital for supervision and further assessment.
In the event of a complete airway obstruction, an "abdominal thrust," also known as the Heimlich maneuver, should be attempted to remove the foreign body. Stand behind the child, with the child leaning against you, and your arms wrapped around their abdomen. Grasp one hand, and when it is wrapped around by the other hand, perform several inward and upward thrusts, above the navel. Continue with the thrusts until the foreign body is released. It should be noted that the Heimlich maneuver for children under one year of age is performed differently - the infant should be laid on the adult's arm, with their face and abdomen facing downwards, slightly tilting the infant's head downwards. The second hand will perform five firm back blows between the shoulder blades of the infant. Then, lay the infant on their back and perform five chest thrusts. If the foreign body does not expel, repeat the actions until the obstruction is removed.
If the Heimlich maneuver is unsuccessful, and the child has lost consciousness, call emergency services immediately and start CPR. Lay the child on the floor or a firm surface, observe the oral cavity to see if the foreign body can be removed and begin compressions and breaths. CPR in the case of choking is particularly important, and it is essential to persist in performing compressions and breaths until the onset of independent breathing or the arrival of emergency services.
The danger is clear, but there are ways to reduce risks:
