In a research conducted by three medical facilities in Atlanta, a group of caregivers of 94 young children between ages 1 to 4 years old were enrolled in a study. They showed them 10 common foods and household objects: a whole grape, a small hot dog, some raw carrot, hard candy, a latex balloon, a pen, a marble, a coin, a cracker, and a rubber duck. The caregivers were then asked to identify the objects that represented a choking hazard for children.

Most of the caregivers failed to realize that a whole grape, a small hotdog and a raw carrot could block a child's airway and cause the child to choke. This shows how parents and child caretakers are not well informed about how easily children can choke and which objects are most hazardous to them.

Children are more susceptible to choking than adults. First, their airways are much smaller and objects that would not block an adult's airway will choke a child. Second, a child's muscles are not well developed, which causes more of a problem with swallowing. Finally, their lung volume is less, because they are naturally small. Because of this, they don't have a tremendous push to expel a particle that is blocking the windpipe.

To prevent choking, try to reduce a child's exposure to items that may present a choking hazard. In addition, children should be taught to chew food thoroughly before swallowing, and young children should not be allowed to eat foods that present a potential choking hazard.

Here is a list of potentially dangerous foods for children under age four: hotdogs, nuts and seeds, chunks of meat or cheese, whole grapes, hard, sticky candy, popcorn, chunks of peanut butter, raw vegetables and chewing gum.

Nonfood items that can present choking hazards to children are the following: latex balloons. coins, marbles, pen or marker caps, small balls, small batteries, syringes, toys with small parts, or parts that can be compressed and medications or recreational drugs in pill form.