The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today released a free do-it-yourself ‘Choke Check’ safety tool to help parents detect choking hazards for babies and toddlers.
“Children up to 36 months old are especially vulnerable to choking and ingestion hazards from a range of common objects found in and outside the home,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.
Ms Rickard explained that the ACCC is encouraging parents to print out and make the Choke Check at home to help determine which objects might pose hazards. Ms Rickard added that the completed Choke Check is cylinder-shaped and works by mimicking the size and shape of a child’s throat (up to the age of 36 months).
“They naturally explore things by putting them in their mouths—as their coughing reflexes are underdeveloped, objects can get easily lodged in their throat and choke or suffocate them. If swallowed, these objects can cause internal blockages.” Ms Rickard commented.
