As incredible as it sounds, a central Florida student from East Ridge Middle School in Lake County died after choking on a hot dog at school on Friday, June 4. EMS workers arrived in the cafeteria and were able to establish some airway, but he later died at the hospital. We wonder if there was anyone certified in CPR or the Heimlich maneuver at the school to help the poor student. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his grieving family.
This is not dissimilar to another situation involving 23-month old Allison Hale. She was eating from a microwave bag of popcorn when a kernel became lodged in her throat and she stopped breathing. Then her heart stopped beating. The autopsy showed she inhaled popcorn into a lung, her bronchial tubes, and her vocal cords.
Now the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to require a warning label on food that can present a choking hazard – not unlike what is already required for toys that are dangerous.
The hot dog is a leading hazard, as are grapes and candy, and the AAP would like manufacturers to redesign the food. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council tells the New York Times that the redesign is not going to happen. Already there is a hot dog on the market that breaks apart when eaten.
Children under the age of 4 are most susceptible to the dangers of choking on dangerous foods. It’s best to wait until they are five or older to introduce the foods. Estimates are that about 160 children died from food obstructions in 2000. Most parents say the same thing, “I can’t believe this happened, I was standing right there.”
The Heimlich maneuver can be performed on a child older than one year, but if the child is younger, face them down on your knee and slap the area between the shoulder blades five times. Be sure you’ve already called 911.
