ChicMe WW

Expert's warning for parents about common food item: 'Leading cause of choking deaths'

By Suzy Monzer|

?Choking hazards can be terrifying for parents in the early stages of their child's life. Food, toys, and common household items that may appear harmless can pose a risk, and it's important to be vigilant to keep young kids safe.

Aussie paramedic and CEO of Tiny Hearts Education, Nikki Jurcutz, is urging parents to be mindful of feeding their children hot dogs in a video posted to Instagram.

"This food causes more choking deaths than any other food," she states in the clip, before demonstrating an important step when preparing hotdogs to 'minimise the choking risk'.

READ MORE:? 'Not changing it': Mum under fire for unique baby name

Aussie paramedic demonstrating how child's airway can be blocked by hotdog. She is using a plastic tube and hotdog to demonstrate.
Aussie paramedic warns parents about hotdog choking hazard (Instagram)

The video begins with the Aussie paramedic showing a clear tube the size of a child's esophagus. ?

"If you were to design a perfect plug for a child's airway you couldn't do much better than a hot dog," reads the text overlaying the video, quoting Dr Gary Smith, Director of the Centre for Injury Research.

"Learn how you can minimise the risk just by changing the way you prep the food," her post caption reads.

As the clip continues, she shows parents that the best way to cut hotdogs is lengthways so that if a child happens to choke on the snack, it doesn't completely block their airway.

READ MORE: Jessie J claps back at critics after sharing pregnancy challenges

Aussie paramedic showing right and wrong way to cut a hotdog to prevent child from choking.
Jurcutz showing right and wrong way to cut a hotdog to prevent child from choking. (Instagram)

Parents were quick to thank Jurcutz for her tip, many sharing their own choking horror stories.

"Just yesterday I had to deliver back thrusts over my knee to my choking five-year-old. The look of fear in her eyes is an image I will never forget. Most terrifying few minutes of my life," wrote one.

"?My father-in-law forbids these ever be served in his presence because he watched a three-year-old boy choke and die on one of these," wrote another.

"?The first time I had to do the Heimlich (manoevure) was as a summer camp counselor for a child choking on a hotdog. Never forgot that and always made sure to cut them like this when serving hot dogs or sausage to my child," chimed in a third.

READ MORE: Mum's 'insufferable' pregnancy revelation

Hot dogs
Hot dogs (Getty)

Other parents noted other health risks posed by the common treat.

"?These are awful, they are classed as a carcinogen - cancer causing. I hope everyone avoids giving them to their babes anyways, thanks for sharing," wrote one.

"The unhealthiest food to feed your child, best to avoid totally," added another.

Tiny Hearts Education has previously posted essential advice about choking and gagging - and is dedicated to educating parents and caregivers about childhood hazards and first-aid.

READ MORE: Mum's 'insufferable' pregnancy revelation

Research conducted by John Hopkins Children's Center, found that hot dogs are the top cause of food-related choking in children under the age of three, with 17 percent of cases caused by hot dog inhalation, followed by hard candy (10 percent), grapes (nine percent) and nuts (eight percent).

For a daily dose of 9Honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.

Mum's clever use for $10 Kmart storage item

Property News: This $35 million-plus property is already being called one of the most iconic yet, and it doesn't even have a house on it.