News Release

Object-related choking deaths decrease among kids

Peer-Reviewed Publication

JAMA Network

Bottom Line: Deaths from choking on objects among children and teens decreased from 1968 to 2017 in this analysis that spans 50 years when efforts to prevent these deaths included a federal law, other regulations, choking hazard warning labels and public awareness campaigns. Researchers report 20,629 object-related choking deaths in children and teens (to age 17) from 1968 to 2017 based on data from the National Vital Statistics System. Deaths declined from 1.02 per 100,000 children (719 deaths) in 1968 to 0.25 per 100,000 children (184 deaths) in 2017. Although a number of laws, regulations and guidelines were adopted during that time, researchers cannot determine their effect on the decline in deaths or if other factors were involved. Additional prevention strategies should be considered to reduce the exposure of children to objects already restricted with warning labels.

To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/

Authors: John D. Cramer, M.D., Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, and coauthors

(doi:10.1001/jama.2019.15375)

Editor's Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.

###

Media advisory: To contact corresponding author John D. Cramer, M.D., email Phil Van Hulle at cz5680@wayne.edu. The full study is linked to this news release.

Embed this link to provide your readers free access to the full-text article This link will be live at the embargo time https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2019.15375?guestAccessKey=ac112679-46b3-4e5b-b4c8-64c0a63dd2c0&utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=112619


Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.