Removing Child Strangulation Risks
July 26th, 2010Along with choking, strangulation injuries send approximately 20,000 children to the emergency room each year. Every parent and child care provider should be aware of strangulation risks and how to remove them.
1. Never tie anything around a child’s neck. This includes pacifiers. Do not use baby bibs with ties and always remove your baby’s bib after mealtime. Never allow a child to sleep with a bib still around their neck.
2. Be aware of furniture risks. Young children can strangle by simply getting their head caught in furniture. Check for recalls on juvenile furniture such as cribs, high chairs, swings, strollers and portable cribs. Don’t forget about recliners. When foot rests are extended, they pose a risk to young children who crawl around and play near them.
3. Remove the danger of window treatment cords by choosing curtains without cords or ensuring all cords are tied up out of a child’s reach. Some designs suggest cutting through the loop, however anything that can wrap around your child’s neck poses a risk.
4. Choose outfits that do not include drawstrings in hoods and jackets. Use necklaces and scarves with caution or choose break away jewelry.
5. Many children are strangled during dangerous play and exploration. The “choking game” is spreading around young adolescents, experimenting with altered levels of consciousness. Believing this to be a “safe” way to get high, kids are causing severe brain damage and even death by restricting their airflow. Every parent should explain the dangers of engaging in such risky behavior to their children. Be proactive and give your child the tools and information they need to stay clear of this dangerous game.