Prevent Holiday Choking Emergencies
News Release: December 21, 2007
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing; American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley (610) 865-4400, ext. 262; pager (610) 508-4378

The holidays are a time to celebrate, give thanks, and reflect. They are also a time for indulging in our favorite foods and drinks, which can inadvertently lead to choking. Would you be able to recognize if a family member or friend starated to choke?

“Although choking is more prevalent in infants and small children, adults have a higher risk during the holidays when we tend to indulge more in eating and drinking,” said Jim Carlisle, manager of injury prevention services at the Allentown Bureau of Health, and Joy Zukauskas, director of Red Cross Health and Safety Services.

Each year it is estimated that 3,000 people die as a result from choking. Here are some common causes of choking:

• Trying to swallow large pieces of poorly chewed food.

• Drinking alcohol before or during meals. (Alcohol dulls the nerves that aid swallowing.)

• Wearing dentures. (They make it difficult to sense if food has been fully chewed.)

• Eating while talking excitedly or laughing.

• Eating too fast.

• Walking, playing, or running with food or objects in the mouth.

The signs that someone may have an obstructed airway are:

• Person can't speak or cry out.

• Person's face turns blue from lack of oxygen.

• Person desperately grabs at throat.

• Person has a weak cough, and labored breathing that produces a high-pitched noise.

• Person does all of the above, then becomes unconscious. “If a person's airway is blocked, the lack of oxygen can cause brain damage in as little as four minutes,” said Zukauskas. Being prepared to handle choking emergencies can save someone’s life – even your own. Get trained today. The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley offers year-round lifesaving classes to prepare you for emergencies. Visit www.redcrosslv.org or call 610-865-4400, ext. 247, for dates and times.

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 680,000 residents of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross provided health and safety education training; Lifeline, a personal response service for seniors; and emergency relief to more than 23,000 Greater Lehigh Valley residents. For more information about the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley or volunteer opportunities, call (610) 865-4400 or visit www.redcrosslv.org.