Health Tips - Safety and Injury Prevention - Airway Obstruction

Safety and Injury Prevention

Airway Obstruction - Injury Statistics and Incidence Rates

The following statistics are the latest available from the National SAFE KIDS Campaign:

In 1999, the majority (80 percent) of children who died from airway obstruction injuries were children ages 4 and under.
In 1999, a total of 776 children ages 14 and under died from airway obstructions:
- In 1999, a total of 569 children ages 14 and under died from suffocation, strangulation, and entrapment (in household appliances and toy chests).
- In 1999, a total of 197 children ages 14 and under died from choking (on food and nonfood items).
In 2000, six children ages 4 and under died from choking on a toy or toy part. In addition, three children died from toy-related suffocation.
On average, 5,000 children ages 14 and under are treated in hospital emergency rooms for airway obstruction due to toys and toy parts annually. The majority of these children (75 percent) are ages 4 and under.

Most airway obstructions in children occur at home.
Children most often choke on food items.
Balloons are the most common cause of toy-related choking death among children of all ages.
The majority of infant suffocation tends to occur where they sleep (60 percent).
Strangulation by window blind or drapery cords most often occurs when the cord hangs near the floor or crib. The majority of children who strangle by window covering cords are ages 3 or under.
More than half of drawstring strangulations (i.e., on the hood or neck of a jacket) occur when they become entangled on playground slides.
Since 1990, at least 57 children have died because they became entrapped in bunk beds.

The age group that is most at risk for all forms of airway obstruction is ages 4 and under.
Boys, low-income, and non-white children are at increased risk for airway obstruction.
Children who sleep in adult beds are at increased risk for airway obstruction.
Since 1990, 209 children ages 2 and under have died in adult beds from accidental smothering by another person laying on them.
Since 1990, 296 children ages 2 and under died in adult beds due to entrapment in the bed structure.