PREVENTION AND HEALTH: SUFFOCATION AND CHOKING

What are they?

Conditions that lead to a blockage of the air passages and death if not handled quickly. Suffocation occurs when something shuts off the mouth and nostrils, and choking when something goes down the windpipe so that the person cannot breathe. It is mostly children who are affected by both of these conditions.

Children usually choke on pieces of food and sweets, but also on foreign bodies such as coins and buttons. The child chokes, coughs and possibly turns blue. Adults usually choke on food.

Causes of suffocation

•     Babies can be suffocated by a pillow in bed.

•     Older children can suffocate by putting polythene or similar bags over their heads while playing.

•     Older children can suffocate when they climb into a disused refrigerator and shut the door.

•     Babies can suffocate by inhaling talcum powder-it clogs their lungs.

Causes of choking

•     A baby can choke on vomit in its cot if it is lying on its back.

•     Babies or young children can choke on a piece of lumpy food when they are just getting used to eating solids. An older child can choke on a piece of food which has ‘gone down the wrong way’.

•     Choking on things other than food is a common occurrence in childhood. Beads, small toys and the like are really dangerous.

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