Choking deaths increase by 17% in one year says ONS

Adults have ‘forgotten’ how to chew their food properly, experts have warned on the back of startling new statistics that show a spike in deaths from choking.

Government figures reveal there were 289 deaths as a result of choking in England, Scotland and Wales in 2016 – a 17 per cent jump on the year before.  

Adults over the age of 45 made up 91 per cent of the recorded deaths – despite children being deemed most at risk of choking, which can kill in minutes.

The data, collected by the Office for National Statistics, also shows that 85 per cent of choking deaths are caused by food.

Experts are concerned about the increase in deaths and cited poorly chewed food as the main driver behind the rise.

Government figures reveal there were 289 recorded deaths from choking in England, Scotland and Wales in 2016

Matt Oakley, director of Dechoker UK – a device which can help remove obstructions in the airways, told MailOnline that adults need to take their time with their food.

Forgetful adults 

He said: ‘There is a continuing awareness around preventing choking deaths in babies and toddlers by cutting up their food correctly and ensuring small things are kept out of reach. 

‘It would appear though, that by time we’ve reached middle age we have forgotten how to chew our food.

‘We are constantly being reminded the pace of modern life can be detrimental to our health, perhaps we should all consider how quickly that effect can be.’ 

The ONS statistics also revealed men faced the greatest risk of choking themselves to death, with them making up 60 per cent of the deaths.

The over-60s made up three quarters of all the deaths, while those 29 and under made up just a handful of the figures.

Children have long been known to be most at risk of choking due to them not chewing their food well, therefore trying to swallow it whole.

Poorly chewed meat 

Previous research, undertaken by Dechoker UK, uncovered poorly chewed meat is the largest cause of an obstruction in the airways.

The data, collected by the Office for National Statistics, also shows that 85 per cent of choking deaths are caused by food. Some 91 per cent of the recorded deaths were adults over the age of 45 - despite children being deemed most at risk of choking hazards

The data, collected by the Office for National Statistics, also shows that 85 per cent of choking deaths are caused by food. Some 91 per cent of the recorded deaths were adults over the age of 45 – despite children being deemed most at risk of choking hazards

Emma Hammett, founder of First Aid For Life, told MailOnline that people laughing or talking while eating is a primary cause of choking.

She also warned about the art of throwing objects into the air to then catch in the mouth, and cutting food up into perfect circles for children. 

Choking: The dangers 

When a person is choking they won’t be able to speak, cry, cough or breathe, and without help they’ll eventually become unconscious.

It would appear though, that by time we’ve reached middle age we have forgotten how to chew our food

Matt Oakley, founder of Dechoker UK

In such an event the NHS guidance is to give the person five sharp blows on the back, followed by five abdominal thrusts – known as the Heimlich manoeuvre. 

When someone is choking, no oxygen is reaching their brain. Hence, not chewing food properly can kill within 10 minutes.

Brain damage is possible after four minutes of choking, while it is expected if the airways haven’t been cleared after eight minutes. 

Save your own life 

The figures come after researchers warned earlier this year that people who start choking should perform the Heimlich manoeuvre on themselves.

Using a chair, adults can generate enough pressure to dislodge something stuck in their airways, experts at The Royal Brompton Hospital, London, said.

After reading the piece in MailOnline, an architect from Yorkshire claimed he saved his own life by self-performing the Heimlich manoeuvre. 

HOW TO PERFORM THE HEIMLICH MANOEUVRE ON YOURSELF

According to researchers at The Royal Brompton Hospital, giving yourself a Heimlich manoeuvre could save your life.

But how do you perform one on yourself when no first-aider is around to help you? 

Here, MailOnline reveals exactly how you can, either by using a chair or using your hand. 

USING A CHAIR

Step one: If you find yourself choking, find yourself a chair to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre on, Dr Hopkinson says (pictured left)

Step two: Line your abdomen area up to the flat back of a chair for the best way of targeting the airways (pictured middle)

Step three: From here, use both hands to grip the chair and then push against it to exert enough force to try and dislodge the obstruction (pictured right)

Dr Hopkinson added that using the corner of a chair may cause injuries, so chokers should stick to exerting force on the back of one. 

USING YOUR HAND 

Emma Hammett, the founder of First Aid for Life, explained how to perform this technique in a piece in January.

She said that chokers should put a bunched fist in the space just underneath their rib cage and tummy button.

They should then use their other hand to push up and in sharply in a J-shaped motion, she told The Hippocratic Post. 

 

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