Choking accidents happen, and pretty frequently. It may be simply caused by the slightest inconvenience, for example, by drinking water. Ultimately, this could lead to choking and be fatal and cause internal harm to one’s body. If someone is choking, they most likely will have little passway throughout their airways, and once that gets closed, the body gets into a shock-responsive state. Thousands of people of all ages experience such incidents yearly. This makes it a significant cause of accidental mortality or wrongful death. However, some of these catastrophes are preventable and happen as a result of carelessness or negligence.
How Does One Choke?
To choke, something must block the trachea and prevent oxygen from getting to the lungs. Among the things that could cause this obstruction are food, tiny objects, and even vomit. An individual’s body rapidly begins to close down when they are unable to breathe because something is obstructing their airway. If choking is left untreated, it can cause mortality or severe brain injury.
Choking Accident Risks
Although anyone can choke, some groups are more susceptible. The elderly and young children are more at risk because they may have trouble swallowing or a weak cough response. Those who have certain medical conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease or a stroke, may also be at an extremely high risk of choking. Moreover, stopping is more common in persons who eat too quickly or improperly chew their food.
Causes of Wrongful Death
Wrongful death occurs when someone dies as a result of the negligence or inaction of another person or group. If someone fails to act appropriately when someone is choking or if they intentionally create a risky scenario that causes choking, wrongful death may result.
For instance, a restaurant could be responsible for wrongful death if it served improperly prepared food that led to someone choking. Similarly to this, if a caregiver neglects to adequately watch over a youngster or an elderly person and they suffocate on something, the death may be the caregiver’s fault.
Prevention Approaches to a Choking Accident
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to lessen your chance of choking and prevent the unjust killing. People and groups can take the following precautions:
- Study the Heimlich movement. The Heimlich maneuver is a technique for removing something from someone’s airway. Everyone should learn this technique because it has the potential to save a life in an emergency.
- Children and adults should be careful when dining to avoid an incident. Surrounding people should always be aware if any such instance occurs.
- Be aware of food texture. This incident is more likely to occur when eating certain foods, such as nuts, popcorn, and hard sweets. People should be aware of the texture of the food they are eating and take the necessary measures, such as chopping meals into little pieces or staying away from hard candies entirely.
- Keep little items away from children. Tiny objects like coins, buttons, and toys pose a serious risk of choking in young children. To avoid choking occurrences, parents and other adults should keep certain objects out of children’s reach.
- Make sure that food is prepared correctly. Improperly cooked or prepared food can increase the risk of choking. To avoid choking occurrences, restaurants, and food producers should adhere to strict food safety regulations.
- Create emergency reaction plans. If a choking incident occurs, organizations should have emergency response procedures in place. Staff members should receive training on how to react and what to do next.
Contact Attorney Today
Our law office is here to assist if you or a loved one has suffered from wrongful death as a result of choking. As we know the disastrous consequences of such conduct, our knowledgeable attorneys are here to protect your rights and pursue justice on your behalf. Feel free to contact our office at 310.943.1171. Such cases are simply one of our many practices.