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Does your kid love putting things in his mouth? This is for you.

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Choking hazard warning sticker

Some children can’t help themselves — they stick everything in their mouths.

The majority of choking incidents involving children happen in the home. Almost 60 percent of non-fatal choking cases are food-related, while another 32 percent involve swallowing coins or gum.

TIPS TO HELP PROTECT YOUR KIDS:

  • Cut food for toddlers into tiny pieces. Children younger than 5 years old should not eat small round or hard foods, including pieces of hot dogs, hard candy, nuts, grapes, marshmallows or popcorn.
  • Ensure young children sit upright while eating, not lying down or playing.
  • Ensure toys and games are age appropriate and not choking hazards.
  • Keep small objects out of reach and sight, such as coins, buttons, beads, jewelry, pins, nails, marbles and tacks.
  • Keep small magnets away from children. These can be found in construction sets, children’s toys or stress-relieving adult desk toys, refrigerator magnets and rare-earth magnets such as Buckyballs.
  • Keep cords and strings of window blinds out of a child’s reach with no furniture nearby.
  • Remove necklaces, purses, scarves, helmets or clothing with drawstrings when a child is playing or sleeping. Remove bibs before a child goes to sleep.
SOURCE:
Safe Kids Worldwide

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    Safe Kids Palm Beach County

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