CHOKING EMERGENCY STATISTICS
STATISTICS
- A leading cause of death in children
- 5,000 deaths yearly
- One child dies every 5 days from choking
- Choking leads to 100,000 visits to the ER yearly
- More people die from aspirating than die in fires, drowning, or accidental shootings
- Leading cause of accidental deaths in persons over the age of 65
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE
- 0-4 minutes: Brain damage unlikely
- 4-6 minutes: Brain damage possible
- 6-10 minutes: Brain damage probable
- 10 minutes +: Probably brain death
- Average emergency response time is 7 to 12 minutes
FACTS
- Of all choking deaths in 2000, 41% were caused by food, 59% by nonfood items (balloons, etc)
- Candy is associated with 19% ER visits for aspiration emergencies – 65% due to hard candy and 35% gummy bears, chocolate, caramel, etc.
- Coins were responsible for 18% of ER visits for children age 1 to 4 years
