August 1, 2001
Chew it Well, Kids
Too many children choke to death on food
More than 2,800 American children choke to death on food each year, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC offers these tips if you are feeding kids under age 4:
- insist that they eat at the table or at least sitting down;
- watch when they eat and urge them to chew slowly;
- cut up firm, round foods, like grapes or hot dogs, so they can't get stuck in the throat.
Other hazardous foods include hard candy, popcorn and spoonfuls of peanut butter.
