Suffocating and choking among children Name: Professor: Course: Institution: Date:

Overview Young children are always prone to many accidents during their development. Suffocating and chocking are the most common but ignored accidents that occur in this case. The objective of the paper is to address these accidents The main focus will be on statistics and teaching plan on how to prevent these accidents.

Statistics Suffocating and choking is a common accident among children. It mainly leads to brain damage and death and thus is a serious accident. It occurs frequently but many parents tend to ignore it. According to United Statistics, 14 children die monthly out of suffocation and choking accidents. Since 2000, suffocation cases which has led to death or brain damage has increased from 800 to 1000 per year (Högberg, 2010).

Continuation On the other hand, choking accidents which have led to total brain damage among children have risen from 18, 000 to 20, 000 for the last five years. Children below four years are more prone to these accidents and their deaths have also increased in recent years. 80 percent of children who die out of chock and suffocation accidents die when they are a sleep and objects such as pillows are associated with these deaths (Högberg, 2010).

Prevention/teaching plan There are many ways of preventing these accidents and teaching plan to children care givers is as follows; As observed in the statistics section, these accidents main occur while children are a sleep. This means that young children should sleep in a good safe place (Després, 2006). Safe sleeping places entails a number of issues. Parents should not sleep with their babies since many babies are suffocated by their parents Children should sleep in their cots which fits them in size These cots should not have cloths or small objects

Continuation… Children should not be covered with heavy beddings Children under the age of 12 months should not be covered with blankets (Després, 2006). The size of beddings should fit the size of cot to prevent a child from wriggling with beddings. Children under the age of 12 months should not use pillows at any circumstance

Continuation…. Many children are suffocated by nappy sacks because they are thin and easy to wrap in the face. To prevent children from suffocating, nappy sacks should be kept out of reach to young children (Abramson, 2014). Babies are commonly choked while trying to swallow small objects This means that children should be kept away from small objects always One of the best ways is to avoid this is buying small toys to babies.

Continuation Plastic bags should be kept away from children at all cost since they often suffocate children. Parents should always monitor their children sleeping styles since they are some sleeping angles which lead choking among babies below 12 months. Finally, children should not be allowed to take drinks or food by themselves. This is because many children are choked to death by food and drinks (Abramson, 2014). Generally, the best way to prevent these accidents to make sure children are under 24/7 care.

Summary Children should not be allowed to take food or drinks on their own. Small objects should be kept away from children Parents should not sleep with their children Babies beddings should be light and should fit the size of the cot Nappy sacks and plastic bags should be kept way from children Toys should be appropriate to the age of children.

Bibliography Högberg, U., & Bergström, E. (2010). Suffocated prone: the iatrogenic tragedy of SIDS. American journal of public health, 90(4), 527. Abramson, H. (2014). Accidental mechanical suffocation in infants. The Journal of Pediatrics, 25(5), 404-413. Després, N., Lapointe, A., Quintal, M. C., Arcand, P., Giguère, C., & Abela, A. (2006). 3-year impact of a provincial choking prevention program. Journal of otolaryngology, 35(4).