Preventing Kids from Choking

Recent statistics show that choking is one of the leading causes of death among children, and the American Academy of Pediatrics wants that to change.

It is asking that warning labels be put on foods that are considered a choking risk, such as candy and hot dogs.

"all of these things, if they’re not chewed well, they can obstruct the child’s airway, shut it off, and then the child can die, " says Dr. Vicki Whitacre of the Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department.

Whitacre says the attempt here is to make parents aware of the problem.

"It seems like people don’t think as well as they used to about some safety things. Of course, we’re much more conscious of trying to prevent things, " says Whitacre.

For a complete list of other guidelines that the American Academy of Pediatrics is releasing, visit www.aap.org/.