New Guidelines To Help Keep Kids Safe From Choking
February 23, 2010 |11:40 | Kids Care By : Team X
Peanuts, popcorn and hot dogs all have something in common, your kids can choke on them. The American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending warning labels on foods - like carrots, grapes and nuts- that pose a high risk for little kids.
Kids are notorious for putting everything in their mouths. "Anything a kid can put in their mouth and swallow it, they will," says Dr. Ken Pippus, a Southern Colorado Pediatric Trauma Surgeon. That's why some Colorado Springs moms say they are alert when their children are eating.
"I try to monitor what they are eating according to their age," says Elizabeth Taylor, mother of two. "When they are eating you really should pay constant attention to them," says Laura-Lee Barron, mother of one. "I still don't let my kids have Jawbreakers," says Jennifer Stone, mother of two.
Whether it's candy or other foods, choking is something Dr. Pippus sees a lot. "Somebody dies every five days from choking on something like a hot dog, those are huge numbers," says Dr. Pippus.
For nearly 20 years he's seen what the wrong foods can do to children. Dr. Pippus says labeling certain foods will help parents and hopefully keep kids safe from harmful food. "I think with something like raising parental awareness is a useful thing and if it takes labels to do that then o-k," says Dr. Pippus. Along with the new labels The American Academy of Pediatrics is also asking that manufacturers lower choking risk when designing new foods and redesign existing foods to make them safer.
0 Comments
Leave a Comment