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Kids and Killer Hot Dogs? 3 Tips to Prevent Choking on Food

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dervoncrui of IA 4:13PM April 16, 2010

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welsskamin of IL 11:50AM March 15, 2010

Stop feeding kids popcorn? A bag of popcorn can have 100 calories whereas many other foods like potato chips are much worse. I agree kids and Americans in general don't eat healthy but "real" food isn't only harvested.
A good diet is balanced and people are able to have different foods at different times. Now, a diet of only hot dogs and popcorn would be bad. But I for one will let my kids eat hot dogs, just their going to their share of other healthier choices as well.
And when they are young the hotdogs will be cut up.

Johncha of PA 6:29PM March 03, 2010

I agree with cutting the hot dog not only in a horzontial way but in a verticle way too, to help a child from choking on something like a hot dog

Victor Budi of VA 7:32PM March 01, 2010

The 3 points in this article to prevent a choking accident are helpful. I think the overall message that one can take away from these suggestions is parental responsibility. Parents should know what their kids can and can't consume depending on their age and parents should always be watching their young children--especially when they are eating. While, I think having to put a warning label on hotdogs is ridiculous, if it will really save even one life then what the heck?

jenny of CT 2:15PM February 25, 2010

We're all missing the larger issue here. You could remove "choking on" from the label and just say... "this hot dog may be hazardous to your child's health."
Step one, stop feeding children hot dogs and pop corn.
Secondly, does it give anyone else the creeps that they're suggesting the hot dog be "re-designed"? REAL food isn't "designed" it's harvested.

Denny of MD 8:52AM February 25, 2010

I think labeling a hot dog, one of kid's most favorite (and most deadly) foods, would actually help significantly in reducing deaths from hot dogs. However, the label should show you how to properly slice the hot dog down the middle and dice for very young children. On another note, if we even really knew the full truth about hot dogs, we'd probably leave them alone. http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/264043/february-08-2010/jonathan-safran-foer

J of NC 11:12AM February 24, 2010

I had a home daycare business for two years and had to use my infant/child CPR on the same 2-year-old child over and over because he would not chew his food. I chopped all his food into tiny pieces, but he would stuff it into his cheeks (like a chipmunk) and then try to swallow it all. I ended up having to dole out his food and wait until he ate a bite or two before giving him more, which made him extremely angry. (With predictable results, I might add.)
So, while cutting up food is the best solution for most parents and children, my own experience has shown that some children may still choke, even if their food is served in tiny cube-shaped pieces.

Former Daycare Mom of MD 10:16AM February 24, 2010

...to parents needing warning labels. Just another example of why people should have to get a license to have children. This kind of reminds me of the McDonald episode and coffee...caution, contents hot. REALLY, I never would have guessed my coffee would be hot. On a more realistic note, these numbers represent pure chance...if it can happen it will. This is far from a hot dog epidemic. Again, people should have to qualify to procreate.

Bob of CO 10:16AM February 24, 2010

I say tough luck...forget labelling hot dogs. You labelled cigarettes and I doubt if one person quit because of it. I am tired of all safety and responsibility issues being legislated and the money to enforce these laws coming out of my pocketbook. In all my years as as adult I have never once heard of a child choking on a hot dog. Where are the responsibilities of the parents in this country? Where do we teach our children to sit down and eat with us, and eat slowly and chew food? When do we start teaching a proper, healthful diet? Are not hot dogs full of fat and salt? Are there not much healthier meals we should be feeding our kids? Should not hot dogs be a special treat and not an everyday affair just because they are easy to prepare. If your child can't eat a hot dog the right way, then it is YOUR responsibility as a parent to feed them foods that they can eat. It is not my job nor my money that should be involved in monitoring your kids eating habits. It won't change a thing, except take the burden of a lawsuit off the companies producing them, and meanwhile one more expense is added to my list of a little here and a little there. It needs to stop, parents need to feed their kids good healthy food, and need to be there when they are eating and teach them good nutrition and eating habits. Sitting in front of a tv babysitter just won't fly as many parents today seem to have their kids doing. Every parent should learn what to do should their child choke. The reality is it could be any food when they are not being watched. I say forget this ridiculour legislation.

LJS of NY 10:15AM February 24, 2010