Americans are 5 times more likely to choke to death on food than Brits

[bobcat]

About five thousand people in the U.S. choke to death on food each year, as opposed to some two hundred British.
Even adjusted for population, that makes Americans far more prone to asphyxiate from swallowing food than Britons.

Even using the most cautious estimates, it's the fourth most common cause of accidental deaths in America today.
Apparently, that little trapdoor called the epiglottis that opens when we breathe, but closes when we swallow is a bit lazier in America.

Not sure why evolution chose to send food and oxygen down the same tunnel, but it certainly has its drawbacks.

 

[Mr. Ed]

A common cause for death in all living life form is end of life.

 

[Rose65]

That's interesting. I try not to laugh while I eat. Also to chew slowly, never rush food.

 

[chic]

Probably no one remembers but a few years ago I almost choked to death on a vitamin pill and I told everyone here. Does anyone remember that? What irony. It's funny in hindsight. Now I chop those pills in smaller portions and have not had another incident but the first was scary enough. Now I can laugh about it. Distance etc.

 

[bobcat]

Probably no one remembers but a few years ago I almost choked to death on a vitamin pill and I told everyone here. Does anyone remember that? What irony. It's funny in hindsight. Now I chop those pills in smaller portions and have not had another incident but the first was scary enough. Now I can laugh about it. Distance etc.

View attachment 326825

Wow, that was close. It's amazing how much consistency matters. We can swallow a heaping teaspoon of ice cream or pudding with no problem, but something as small as a pill can almost be the end of us.

 

[hollydolly]

Probably no one remembers but a few years ago I almost choked to death on a vitamin pill and I told everyone here. Does anyone remember that? What irony. It's funny in hindsight. Now I chop those pills in smaller portions and have not had another incident but the first was scary enough. Now I can laugh about it. Distance etc.

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I do remember that Chic...what a fright you got...

 

[chic]

I do remember that Chic...what a fright you got...

I know. I can be a terrible klutz.

 

[hollydolly]

I know. I can be a terrible klutz.

no..you're not... i know what it feels like to choke on something small..I'm divorcing him soon...

 

[Nathan]

Americans are 5 times more likely to choke to death on food than Brits

LOL, who is collecting this type of information, and where do they find it???

Not sure why evolution chose to send food and oxygen down the same tunnel, but it certainly has its drawbacks.

...yep, the current design needs to be kicked back to the architectural and engineering dept.

 

[chic]

Wow, that was close. It's amazing how much consistency matters. We can swallow a heaping teaspoon of ice cream or pudding with no problem, but something as small as a pill can almost be the end of us.

It was a rock hard pill @bobcat. It was my fault for being an idiot and not chopping it up in small easy to swallow pieces. It was on a day off for me and I did tell everyone here what happened because my windpipe was blocked and my face was turning purple because I couldn't breathe. Luckily I coughed hard enough that it dislodged and I never made that mistake again. Kind of ironic though, wasn't it?

 

[Beezer]

i know what it feels like to choke on something small..I'm divorcing him soon

 

[Warrigal]

Eating style could be a contributing factor. Correct me if I'm wrong but don't Americans cut their food up in one go, then put the knife down and eat the food quickly? The Brits, and Aussies, cut their food and chew/eat it one bite at a time. It is a slower process and less likely to cause a swallowing problem.

 

[bobcat]

LOL, who is collecting this type of information, and where do they find it???


...yep, the current design needs to be kicked back to the architectural and engineering dept.

This is the book I'm currently reading, and I have to say it is fascinating, and explained so well. That's where the info came from.

 

[bobcat]

Surprisingly, or perhaps not, there is a museum in Philadelphia (Mutter Museum) that houses a bizarre collection of objects retrieved from the throats of people that purposely or accidentally attempted to swallow them. Among them are:
A wristwatch
A crucifix with rosary beads
Miniature binoculars
A small padlock
A toy trumpet
A full-sized meat skewer
A radiator key
Several spoons
A poker chip
.... and a small medallion that ironically said: "Carry Me For Good Luck".

 

[ohioboy]

I could not swallow my V iagra pill, got a stiff neck.

 

[bobcat]

Eating style could be a contributing factor. Correct me if I'm wrong but don't Americans cut their food up in one go, then put the knife down and eat the food quickly? The Brits, and Aussies, cut their food and chew/eat it one bite at a time. It is a slower process and less likely to cause a swallowing problem.

I think Americans do some of both, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to learn that Americans eat faster that their counterparts, and perhaps don't chew thoroughly. Maybe Brits linger a bit more over a meal, and consequently there's no big chunks to manage. Diet could play a role too, with possibly food that needs a bit less chewing, or maybe more liquid consumed when swallowing. Not sure, but maybe someone else here might know.

 

[bobcat]

I could not swallow my V iagra pill, got a stiff neck.

Not to worry, it goes away in a couple hours. Just try not to look at anything provocative.

 

[Nathan]

Surprisingly, or perhaps not, there is a museum in Philadelphia (Mutter Museum) that houses a bizarre collection of objects retrieved from the throats of people that purposely or accidentally attempted to swallow them. Among them are:
A wristwatch
A crucifix with rosary beads
Miniature binoculars
A small padlock
A toy trumpet
A full-sized meat skewer
A radiator key
Several spoons
A poker chip
.... and a small medallion that ironically said: "Carry Me For Good Luck".

I was going to but really not surprised.

 

[911]

I got a radio call to meet an ambulance at a remote location in northern Pennsylvania. When I arrived there the paramedics were already beginning to work on an 11 y/o boy that was choking on a hot dog. I saw them using an instrument that the one medic called a choking tube. Within less than 1 minute, the piece of hot dog was removed.

This stuck in my mind for a long time and not long after they were made available to the public, I bought one and keep it in my small case that I also carry a portable AED. I don’t have the most expensive models, but they do work and are approved by the AMA. This similar to the one I have.

Choking Tube

 

[bobcat]

I got a radio call to meet an ambulance at a remote location in northern Pennsylvania. When I arrived there the paramedics were already beginning to work on an 11 y/o boy that was choking on a hot dog. I saw them using an instrument that the one medic called a choking tube. Within less than 1 minute, the piece of hot dog was removed.

This stuck in my mind for a long time and not long after they were made available to the public, I bought one and keep it in my small case that I also carry a portable AED. I don’t have the most expensive models, but they do work and are approved by the AMA. This similar to the one I have.

Choking Tube

What a great invention. Better to have it and not need it than the opposite case. You just may save someone's life.