Sadly, choking is the leading cause of unintentional deaths for children ages three and younger, according to a public service announcement from Texas Health and Human Services. These preventable incidents can easily happen at local daycare and childcare centers in The Woodlands when caregivers do not proactively remove choking hazards or if they are not quick to respond when a child is choking.
When a child chokes on food or an object, his or her airway becomes obstructed, preventing them from breathing and cutting oxygen from the brain. This is dangerous because a child can experience permanent brain damage or even pass away without oxygen after just a few minutes.
That’s why our experienced daycare and childcare injury lawyers in The Woodlands are warning caregivers and parents alike about common causes of choking incidents and how they can easily be prevented.
What Foods Do Children Choke on at Daycare Centers in The Woodlands?
According to a medical study published in 2022, approximately 60-80% of children’s choking incidents are related to food. Thus, caregivers at daycare and childcare centers in The Woodlands must be aware of popular foods that can be choking hazards for the children they care for.
The most common foods that are difficult for little ones to properly chew or are sized perfectly to block a child’s airway at local daycare and childcare centers include:
- Cherries
- Chunks of cheese or fruit
- Gummy candies or vitamins
- Hard candies
- Hot dogs
- Marshmallows
- Nuts and seeds
- Peanut butter
- Popcorn
- Raisins
- Raw vegetables such as carrots
- Sausages
- Whole grapes
In addition, caregivers at childcare facilities in The Woodlands must ensure children are correctly seated when eating. For the youngest at the center, this means double-checking they are sitting upright and properly strapped into a highchair. Older toddlers and children should not be hunched over or lying down while eating; they should be reminded to sit up properly to avoid choking.
Lastly, children eating their food quickly without thoroughly chewing during a snack or meal can also lead to a choking incident at a daycare or childcare center in The Woodlands.
What Are Other Common Choking Hazards at Daycare Centers in The Woodlands?
It is no secret that young children typically put everything, even non-food items, in their mouths and use their senses to help them discover new objects. This behavior can also be a self-soothing tactic to help them find comfort in a stressful moment, such as being left alone for a nap.
Age-inappropriate toys with small parts can pose a serious choking hazard for children of all ages. A local mother in The Woodlands warned parents with young children that her daughter choked on and accidentally swallowed a small piece of a popular fidget spinner when she put the toy in her mouth to clean it, per a KHOU story.
Our daycare and childcare injury lawyers in The Woodlands have also seen firsthand how common objects found in daycare classrooms can be serious choking hazards when accessed by little hands. These items include:
- Balloons
- Button batteries
- Craft beads
- Jewelry items in a dress-up box
- Loose coins
- Magnets
- Marbles
- Pen caps
- Safety pins
- Small stones or rocks
Caregivers in The Woodlands should diligently store these high-risk items in classrooms, especially during nap and rest times at the center, as part of safe sleep practices. Little ones should also be closely watched during playtime to ensure they properly use these objects and keep them out of their mouths.
Watch this video to learn more about the common causes of choking at daycare and childcare centers in The Woodlands.
How Can Daycare Centers in The Woodlands Prevent Choking Incidents?
Choking incidents at daycare and childcare centers in The Woodlands are easily preventable when children are properly supervised. This includes local facilities complying with child-to-caregiver ratios so that teachers have constant auditory and visual awareness of little ones.
In addition, local caregivers should be trained and qualified. They can take infant- and child-specific CPR in-person training classes taught at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands. These classes help caregivers recognize the signs of a child choking and know what to do in the event of a choking incident. This is important, as most children choke in silence without any loud noises or exaggerated movements, and a quick response from a caregiver can mean the difference between life and death for a child. Explore the local schedule here.
Other preventative tactics that all caregivers at daycare and childcare centers in The Woodlands should follow include:
- Cutting all foods into small, bite-sized pieces that are easy to chew
- Identifying and removing potential choking hazards around the center that are within reach of little hands
- Teaching and practicing the importance of thoroughly chewing food before swallowing by encouraging little ones to chew ten times for every bite
Our daycare and childcare injury lawyers in The Woodlands share additional helpful choking prevention tips in this video.
Getting Justice for Your Child After a Daycare Choking Incident Thanks to The Button Law Firm
Our team of experienced and compassionate daycare and childcare injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm is dedicated to advocating for you and your family if your child was harmed by a preventable choking incident at a facility in The Woodlands. Helping families in Montgomery County, we are ready to listen and fight for your family. Our lawyers at The Button Law Firm are recognized on the prestigious Texas Super Lawyers list, and we can help guide you after a traumatizing incident involving your child. We work on contingency, meaning we don’t charge you or collect any upfront fees to get started on your case. Call us at 281-857-6116, email us at [email protected], or fill out a contact form for a free case evaluation.
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