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What are the "Do's" and "Don'ts" of protecting your child from suffocation accidents?

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Do not place golden necklaces around the child’s neck as it could get entangled and might lead to suffocation.
Do not leave plastic bags within the child’s reach or around his/her bed as this may lead to suffocation.
Do not leave hard candy, nuts, berries, pins, buttons and other solid objects within the child’s reach and make sure his/her toys do not include small objects that are easy to grab such as buttons, eyes and others. Keep these materials in a safe place, as he might inhale or swallow them causing him/her to suffocate.
Always carry your child while he is bottle-feeding, as it creates a safer and a more intimate environment for him/her and do not allow the child to bottle feed himself/herself without supervision as this may lead to suffocation.
Do not allow children to play near refrigerators, lockers and washing machines that are empty or unused, they may die of suffocation if locked inside.
Keep large and unused objects in a safe and locked place.
Do not place cushions and pillows excessively around the child as it might lead to suffocation, a plain bed is safer. ^1,2,3

Dr. Elie Choueiry

Paediatrician Intensive Care Specialist PICU HDF

¹Book « Urgences Pediatriques – Volume 2

Written by Philippe Labrune-Denis Oriot-Bernard Labrune-Gilbert Huault

²Urgences & soins Intensifs pediatriques

Edition du CHU Sainte-Justine

Prepared by J. Lacroix, M.Gauthier, P. Hulbert, F. Leclerc, P. Gaudreault

³The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Resource-Revised Fourth Edition

American College of Emergency Physicians American Academy of Pediatrics

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