Touching, tasting, smelling - they're all ways in which small children learn about their environments. But it can also get them into trouble. Inevitably during the course of growing up, kids will make the mistake of swallowing, inhaling or sticking into pretty much any orifice some sort of item in the name of curiosity. There are few parents who haven't rushed their child to the emergency room to have a coin or other item removed from his throat or belly, or to retrieve a bean, bead or whatever else tickles his fancy from a nostril. These problems usually only leave you with a funny story, but sometimes they can be life-threatening. Between the ages of 6 months - when they first become mobile - and 3 years, kids are most at risk for swallowing items they find lying around, such as coins, which are the most common item, or foods such as nuts, hot dogs, grapes and popcorn. If you see the child swallow something or notice coughing, gagging, or trouble swallowing or breathing, then seek medical attention. If the child coughs, let him try to get the item out on his own, and if that doesn't work, then administer the Heimlich maneuver.
If that doesn't work, then call 911 and clear the child's airway and give him breaths. If the child has already swallowed the item, then a trip to the doctor for scans such as x-rays is in order. Depending on where the item is, the doctor may use a probe with a grabber or balloon on the end to retrieve the item, or simply let it pass on its own. For items in the nose, try blocking the unobstructed nostril with your finger and allowing the child to blow it out gently into a tissue. If that doesn't work, then medical attention is needed. Don't attempt to get out the item with tweezers or other tools - you may push it further into the nostril. The doctor may use some of the same tactics as getting an item out of the esophagus - balloon catheters, forceps or other tools may do the trick. For loose items like gravel or sand, the doctor may flush the cavity with water. To avoid life-threatening situations, take infant and child CPR classes. Every second counts when your child can't breathe.