Primary prevention

Vigilant care is necessary to prevent aspiration of oropharyngeal material.

Prevention strategies in children include:[25][26]​​

  • Avoid offering hard round foods such as popcorn, hard lollies, uncut grapes, peanuts or other nuts, raw carrot or apples

  • Encourage children to sit calmly while eating; children should not run or play during meals

  • Offer children a single piece of food at a time

  • Avoid small toys, toys with small parts, or sweets that contain a toy inside, for young children

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) maintains information on hazardous toys. The National Association of State Public Interest Research Groups has a website that provides information and where defects can be reported. United States Public Interest Research Group: toy safety tips Opens in new window

In the US, strategies for toys and food-related choking among children need to be improved and ensure that 1) increased efforts from CPSC to ensure that toys that are sold in retail store bins, vending machines, or on the internet have appropriate choking-hazard warnings; and 2) establishment by the US Food and Drug Administration of the necessary surveillance, hazard evaluation, enforcement, and public education activities to prevent food-related choking among children.[27] The number and severity of the injuries could be reduced by educating both parents and children; more than 50% of foreign body aspirations occur under the supervision of adults.[28] Behavioral and dietary interventions in children include avoiding other activities while eating (e.g., running, playing, engagement with digital devices) and a restriction of certain dietary choices until such time that the child can safely swallow these foods (e.g., nuts, lollipops, hard candy).[25][26]​​[29]

Older or neurologically impaired people should eat or be fed small meals at a slow pace and of an appropriate consistency to prevent choking or regurgitation. Good oral hygiene is recommended. The importance of dental prophylaxis and good oral hygiene should be emphasized and any nonrestorable teeth extracted.

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