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Alzahrani K, Alzahrani NA, Alghamdi SM, Alshamrani HA, Alghamdi HA, Barnawi MI. Safety Practices in Al-Baha: A Cross-Sectional Study on Parental Awareness of Child Choking Events. Cureus 2024; 16:e62100. [PMID: 38989322 PMCID: PMC11236439 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.62100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Instances of choking continue to pose a concern for the health and safety of children. This study aims to assess parents' understanding, awareness, and perspectives on child choking. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Al-Baha region of Saudi Arabia from September 13, 2023, to October 3, 2023. Data collection was done via an electronically validated questionnaire among parents aged 18 years and above, covering knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, the Shapiro-Wilk test, and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Any result below 0.05 (p < 0.05) was considered significant. RESULTS Out of 819 participants, 705 individuals were included in the analysis. The results indicated that there was a good level of knowledge (55%) regarding handling child choking situations. Interestingly, females demonstrated higher levels of awareness compared to males (79.4% versus 20.6%). Attitudes toward managing child choking incidents were rated as overall moderate, with 66.5% showing poor practices, such as being hesitant to seek medical assistance if symptoms improved. A majority of choking cases occurred at home (85%), underscoring the importance of enhancing intervention strategies through increased knowledge dissemination. Notably, the internet and social media platforms (71.8%) emerged as primary sources of information on dealing with child choking incidents. There was significant interest in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) classes (69.2%), although many people found it hard to make time for them (45%). CONCLUSIONS Parents in the Al-Baha area seem to have a good understanding but some concerning attitudes when it comes to child choking situations. It is important to spread awareness, correct misconceptions, and encourage CPR training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid Alzahrani
- Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, SAU
| | | | | | | | | | - Mohammad I Barnawi
- Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, SAU
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Luo Y, Awoyemi O, Liu S, Niu J, Naidu R, Fang C. From celebration to contamination: Analysing microplastics released by burst balloons. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 464:133021. [PMID: 37992504 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Air balloons are a ubiquitous presence in our daily lives, and their rupture may release a substantial quantity of debris, as investigated herein. We employ Raman imaging to capture the fragments resulting from balloon explosions, enabling the identification and direct visualisation of minute microplastic particles / fragments with an improved signal-to-noise ratio for precise quantification. To circumvent the generation of misleading confocal Raman images, we recommend employing terrain mapping to scan the three-dimensional surface of the sample. It is important to acknowledge that the analysis of microplastics at the micro-scale inherently poses limitations in terms of throughput, as it necessitates a trade-off between low and high magnifications. We conduct explosive experiments on ten-to-hundred balloons, collecting debris from various angles and positions. Our investigation involves the random testing of multiple samples / sample positions at the micro-scale, with subsequent extrapolation to estimate the total amount of microplastics. The amalgamation of these results through statistical analysis indicates that each balloon explosion can potentially release tens-to-thousands of microplastics, highlighting a concern that has hitherto received insufficient attention. The characterisation approach, particularly the random Raman scanning method in combination with SEM and the statistical analysis on accumulated samples employed in this report, has the potential to serve as a useful tool in future research on microplastics and even nanoplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunlong Luo
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Olalekan Awoyemi
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Siyuan Liu
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Junfeng Niu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, PR China
| | - Ravi Naidu
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Cheng Fang
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
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Bandini A, Gandhi P, Sutton D, Steele CM. Bolus Texture Testing as a Clinical Method for Evaluating Food Oral Processing and Choking Risk: A Pilot Study. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY 2022; 31:2806-2816. [PMID: 36251878 PMCID: PMC9911109 DOI: 10.1044/2022_ajslp-22-00014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Choking on food is a leading cause of accidental death in several populations, including children, people with intellectual/developmental disability, and older adults in residential care facilities. One contributor to choking risk is incomplete oral processing and failure to convert food to a cohesive, nonsticky bolus with a maximum particle size that will not block the airway. Clinical tests of mastication do not evaluate properties of chewed food boluses. We characterized expectorated boluses, after oral processing, using methods developed by the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI). METHOD Seventeen adults without dysphagia (seven women and 10 men), aged 23-55 years, chewed samples of a cracker, a raw baby carrot, and a circular, dome-shaped gummy candy. Chewing metrics were obtained up to the point when the person indicated that they were ready to swallow. The bolus was then either expectorated or swallowed; IDDSI tests were used to characterize the expectorated boluses. RESULTS Measures of chewing did not differ between spit and swallow conditions. Expectorated cracker and carrot boluses had maximum particle size consistent with IDDSI Level SB6 Soft & Bite-Sized foods or lower. The gummy candy samples remained at IDDSI Level RG7 Regular food consistency. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that expectorated ready-to-swallow boluses are representative of boluses that are swallowed and that oral processing in adults without dysphagia typically results in boluses at IDDSI's Level SB6 or lower. IDDSI's testing methods provide a practical method for evaluating oral processing by characterizing expectorated ready-to-swallow boluses and may guide food texture recommendations for persons who have increased risk of choking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Bandini
- Swallowing Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, KITE Research Institute – Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada
- The BioRobotics Institute, Suola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Excellence in Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Pooja Gandhi
- Swallowing Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, KITE Research Institute – Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada
- Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Danielle Sutton
- Swallowing Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, KITE Research Institute – Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada
| | - Catriona M. Steele
- Swallowing Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, KITE Research Institute – Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada
- Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Carballo-Fazanes A, Abelairas-Gómez C, Rodríguez-Ruiz E, Barcala-Furelos R, Rodríguez-Núñez A. Anti-choking suction devices use. A pilot simulated study with parents and kindergarten teachers. Resuscitation 2022; 177:5-6. [PMID: 35697175 DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2022.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aida Carballo-Fazanes
- CLINURSID Research Group, Psychiatry, Radiology, Public Health, Nursing and Medicine Department, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Simulation, Life Support, and Intensive Care Research Unit (SICRUS) of the Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Cristian Abelairas-Gómez
- CLINURSID Research Group, Psychiatry, Radiology, Public Health, Nursing and Medicine Department, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Simulation, Life Support, and Intensive Care Research Unit (SICRUS) of the Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Faculty of Education Sciences, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Emilio Rodríguez-Ruiz
- Simulation, Life Support, and Intensive Care Research Unit (SICRUS) of the Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Intensive Care Medicine Department. University Clinic Hospital of Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), Galician Public Health System (SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Roberto Barcala-Furelos
- Simulation, Life Support, and Intensive Care Research Unit (SICRUS) of the Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain; REMOSS Research Group, Faculty of Education and Sport Sciences, Universidade de Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
| | - Antonio Rodríguez-Núñez
- CLINURSID Research Group, Psychiatry, Radiology, Public Health, Nursing and Medicine Department, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Simulation, Life Support, and Intensive Care Research Unit (SICRUS) of the Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Pediatric Critical, Intermediate and Palliative Care Section, Pediatric Department. Hospital, Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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Vega C, Kannikeswaran N, Farooqi A, Arora R. Toys and Toy Accessories Strike Back: Pediatric Injuries From Plush Toys, Toy Figurines, and Doll and Toy Accessories. Pediatr Emerg Care 2022; 38:e714-e718. [PMID: 34787986 DOI: 10.1097/pec.0000000000002389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to examine age-associated injury trends and severe injury proportions for plush toys, toy figurines, and doll and toy accessories. We hypothesized that the proportion of severe injuries would be highest in the younger than 3-year and 3- to 5-year age groups. METHODS We analyzed injury patterns from plush toys, toy figurines, and doll and toy accessories for ages of 0 to 18 years from 2010 to 2018 using the Consumer Product Safety Commission National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. Exclusion criteria included unspecified toy categories, adult or pet involvement, or unspecified disposition. National estimates were calculated with National Electronic Injury Surveillance System sample weights. Outcome of interest was severe injury proportions per age and toy category. Severe injury was defined as life- or limb-threatening injuries or injuries requiring admission. χ2 test was used to analyze the distribution of categorical variables. RESULTS We analyzed 1360 injuries. The majority occurred in female (n = 771, 56.7%) and ages of 3 to 5 years (n = 580, 42.7%). Annual injury frequency remained stable. One fifth of injuries were severe (n = 321, 23.6%), with a national estimate of 9304.7. The majority of both total (n = 778, 57.2%) and severe injuries (n = 182, 56.7%) resulted from toy figurines. Life-threatening injury secondary to foreign body aspiration or ingestion with a risk for asphyxiation was the most common severe injury. Severe injuries were significantly more common in the younger than 3-year group (odds ratio, 3.59; 95% confidence interval, 2.40-5.36) and 3- to 5-year age group (odds ratio, 2.97; 95% confidence interval, 2.01-4.39) than the older than 5-year age group. CONCLUSIONS Injury frequency remained stable. The greatest proportion of injuries were in ages up to 5 years, with most injuries occurring in the 3- to 5-year age category, and a significant proportion of injuries were severe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Vega
- From the Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital of Michigan
| | | | - Ahmad Farooqi
- Children's Research Center of Michigan, Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Rajan Arora
- From the Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital of Michigan
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