What Size Is Considered to Be a Choking Hazard?

There is nothing scarier for parents than watching their child choking and gasping for air. According to the New York State Department of Health, choking ranks fourth among the leading causes of unintentional death in children 5 and under 2. At least one child in the United States reportedly dies from choking every five days, the agency says. In most cases, choking is preventable.

What is Choking?

Choking occurs when a foreign object blocks the airway, causing the inability to breathe. An obstructed airway can quickly lead to severe complications, including brain damage and death. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children under 3 are especially at risk of choking due to the fact that they have a small airway and a more difficult time chewing and swallowing food 1. Small children also tend to put things in their mouth.

Size Considered Choking Hazard

Top 10 Choking Hazards for Children

Learn More

In the United States, the Child Safety Protection Act requires warning labels on packaging for toys containing small parts. A tool called the small parts test fixture is used to measure toy parts. It is a cylinder tube that is 1.25 inches in diameter and between 1 and 2.25 inches deep. It is designed to mimic a child's mouth and pharynx. Any object that fits in the tube is considered a small part and must have a label on its packaging indicating it is a choking hazard for small children.

Common Things Kids Choke On

The food responsible for the most deaths caused by choking is hot dogs, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics 1. This is due to the fact that hot dogs are shaped like the pharynx and, if one gets into the airway, it completely blocks it. Toys that often cause choking include marbles, balloons and balls with a diameter of less than 1.75 inches.

How to Prevent Choking

Healthy Goody Bags for Kid's Parties

Learn More

To help prevent choking, children should never be left unattended when eating. They should eat sitting straight up. Foods that have a tendency to cause choking should be avoided or cut into pieces before being served to small children. Children under 3 should not be allowed to play with toys with small pieces. Older children should be supervised when playing with these toys. The New York State Department of Health recommends that all parents learn how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and abdominal thrusts, also known as the Heimlich Maneuver 2.