Choking and Suffocation

Unintentional choking and suffocation injuries account for over 3,600 deaths in the home each year. While Children are a high risk category for these incidents, choking and suffocation affect people of all ages. Talking or laughing while eating, or size of food not suitable to consume, affects adults.

• Suffocation is the leading cause of injury deaths in children less than one year of age.
• According to the CDC's most recent data, there were 463 choking deaths related to food among people aged 65 to 85 years old in 2006.
• Choking and suffocation injuries are one of the main reasons for unintentional deaths for children aged 1-14.

Sources: Injury Facts 2009 ed. and www.cdc.gov

Take Safety Home and prevent a tragedy from happening to any loved one or acquaintance with these safety resources:

• Avoiding Everyday Choking Hazards
• How to Help a Choking Child
• What to do if someone is Choking
• Preventing Childhood Airway Obstruction Injuries
• Preventing Children from Choking on Food
• Preventing Suffocation in Infants