Choking Hazards - A Serious Risk

<p>We interact with so many different kinds of technology that it can be easy to forget how complex they are. Many devices we use every day are composed of thousands of parts. Some of these can come loose. As anyone who has spent a lot of time around a small child knows, they are prone to putting things in their mouths at random. If a small part, such as a knob or internal component, comes loose and falls to the floor, there is a chance a child will put it in her mouth.</p><p>For this reason, devices that contain lots of small parts or parts that can easily come loose often carry warning labels. You've probably seen the phrase "choking hazard" printed on a warning label before. The number of things that carry warnings like these is great, and all sorts of things can pose choking hazards. Some toys which are perfectly safe for a 7-year-old can pose a danger for that child's 3-year-old sibling.</p><p>One of the ways you can help prevent this risk is to check products for such warning labels. Every time you consider buying something for a young child, make certain that it doesn't contain parts that could pose a risk. Labeling is extensive enough that finding toys that are safe for young children is much easier than it has been in the past.</p><p>Of course toys aren't the only source of small parts. Anything that has buttons, switches, and other such parts can potentially pose a risk. The caps to pens, coins, and batteries can also cause a young child to choke. Many of us have several small objects like coins and batteries sitting around all the time, and they can be easily overlooked by adults. Young children are very inquisitive and will explore their surroundings. Things that are easy for us to miss sitting down or standing are easy to find when you're a curious child sitting on the floor.</p><p>If a small child is going to be spending time in a room, it should always be cleared of anything the child can choke on. Take extra care, since the risks are great and the number of potential choking hazards is often greater than might be expected. Make sure there aren't any coins, batteries, or pens lying around on the floor or where a child can reach them. Store these things away in child-safe containers.</p><p>It can be very difficult to notice if a young child does put something in her mouth, even if you're sitting in the same room. Someone who is choking, no matter what age, will be unable to speak and might have difficulty communicating distress. Strange though it may sound, it is not rare for someone to choke to death at the dinner table or in a restaurant without anyone noticing.</p><p>Someone who is choking will have limited breathing or no breathing at all, sometimes producing a rasping or gurgling sound. Eventually this lack of oxygen will cause the person's lips and skin to turn blue. Not long after, the person might lose consciousness. If the obstruction in the throat is not cleared quickly, brain damage begins.</p><p>If someone seems to be choking, immediately call 911. If you or someone nearby has been trained in the Heimlich maneuver, use it. Do not hit the person on the back, as this will not always dislodge the object and can even make it become lodged deeper.</p><p>If your life or the life of a loved one has been adversely affected by an improperly labeled choking hazard, a skilled personal injury lawyer can help. Products that pose choking hazards but are not properly labeled pose a public safety risk, and someone might be accountable. With the help of the experienced <a target="_new" href="http://habush.com" rel="nofollow">Milwaukee personal injury lawyers</a> of Habush Habush & Rottier, SC you can fight to remove dangerous products from the market. For more information, contact Habush Habush & Rottier today to speak to a lawyer.</p><p>Joseph Devine</p>