Nannying Gone Too Far

[talon]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,587133,00.html

What parent has kids and doesn't learn the Heimlich Maneuver?

What parent leaves their kids in a day care or other facility where even one adult working there doesn't know the Heimlich Maneuver?

OK, maybe I expect too much. I know food represents a choking hazardeven in adults, but to place the burden of the choking on the food manufacturer/chef/cook/food is ridiculous. It's a known risk and one can choke on even the most inocuous things. My most common choke hazards are water and hot broth - should those be labeld as choke hazards or should we all just agree that food can be dangerous and learn how to eat so it lessens the danger?

For children, the choking occurs when they take too large a bite, don't chew their food, or eat too fast. Young children should have their food cut into child-sized bite-sized pieces and taught to chew their food thoroughly and to eat slowly. As they age, they can cut their own food. By then, they should be well acclimated to chewing and savoring their food.

Schools and daycares contribute to hasty eating by scheduling activities as part of the lunch time and rushing children through their meals. I don't see any remedy for this other than parental training in the early years and perhaps treating the school lunch not as a full meal, but as a light snack to stave off hunger until the children can have a more leisurely meal after school.

It's not the food that's at fault, it very often is the way we eat it, and sometimes the way we prepare it (little fish or chicken bones, anyone?). For that, we need common sense and education.

So, yeah, I guess I am expecting too much.