Be Aware of Choking Hazards for Children this Christmas

Christmas is a time to relax with family and enjoy the festive celebrations. But The Children's Hospital at Westmead is reminding families that the holiday season is not without hazards - especially for young children. However, by taking a few simple precautions and being aware of potential hazards you can ensure that your family has a safe and happy holiday.

Whether you have kids of your own or are entertaining friends and family, you need to be aware of choking hazards, especially with small children.

The Children's Hospital at Westmead treats a regular stream of preschoolers presenting to the Hospital after swallowing small objects that lodge in the lungs, but always experiences a significant increase in numbers around the Christmas and New Year period. Many of these children will require subsequent surgery for breathing and choking problems.

Things to watch out for include:

• Small parts of toys (perhaps belonging to an older sibling)
• Nuts
• Party food & small nibblies
• Beads
• Lego
• Christmas decorations
• Small parts of toys (perhaps belonging to an older sibling)

None of these objects show up on an x-ray; the problem only becomes apparent with the subsequent damage to the lung - so children even suspected of having inhaled something will need examination under a full anaesthetic

NUTS in particular should be kept well out of reach of children who are under school age (5). As well as blocking part of the air passage, the oil in nuts causes a strong inflammatory reaction, which adds to the blockage and softens the nut. This makes it even more difficult to remove without crushing it and spreading the fragments deeper down into the lungs. Nuts and young children DON'T MIX.

STAY ALERT. Simple knowledge, planning and vigilance will ensure the whole family enjoys a safe and merry Christmas.

Helpful hints to keep your Christmas free of choking hazards:

• Keep party food on a high table out of reach of children. Give them a small plate of food that is safe to eat.
• Watch the children open their presents, keep the floor clear of small objects that crawling babies could find.
• Teach older children to pack away toys with small parts in a safe place.
• Don't ever leave young children unsupervised. For a toddler supervision means holding the child, holding hands or being within arms reach. It does not mean being visible through a window or at a distance.
• Think ahead, could that small object be put in their mouth and what would be the consequences if it went into their windpipe?

What to do if a child is choking:

The Children's Hospital at Westmead recommends that all parents be aware of basic First Aid techniques to use in an emergency. If you are in any doubt of your child's wellbeing seek urgent medial advice or dial 000 for Emergency Assistance.

• Check first if the child is still able to breathe, cough or cry. If the child is breathing, coughing or crying, he or she may be able to dislodge the food by coughing.

     •  If the child is not breathing, try to dislodge the object by placing the child face down over your lap so that their head is lower than their chest.

• Give the child four sharp blows on the back just between the shoulder blades. This should provide enough force to dislodge the food.
• Check again for signs of breathing.
• If the child is still not breathing, dial 000 for urgent ambulance assistance.

About The Children's Hospital at Westmead

The Children's Hospital at Westmead is the largest, highly respected paediatric centre in NSW, providing excellent care for children from NSW, Australia and across the Pacific Rim.  Established in 1880, a stand alone public hospital and registered charity with 3,000 staff in 150 departments, The Children's Hospital at Westmead serves over 60,000 sick children and their families each year in a family-focused healing environment. Funded by the NSW Government, provides significant extra services aided by the generosity of individual and corporate donors.  For more information visit http://www.chw.edu.au/

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

Surgeon Dr John Curotta, (Head of Ear Nose and Throat Services at The Children's Hospital at Westmead) is available for interviews.

Contact: Natalie Peck, PR Officer (02) 9845 3580 or natalip6@chw.edu.au

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