Holiday season is here, and with all the big meals, festive treats, new toys, and extra visitors in the house, choking emergencies unfortunately go up this time of year. Families are busy, kids are excited, and there is a lot more food and small objects within reach. A little awareness can go a long way in keeping everyone safe.

Here are 4 of the most important things to keep in mind before your celebrations begin.

1. Some Foods Pose a Higher Risk for Young Children

Children under four or five have much smaller airways, and many common holiday foods can quickly become choking hazards.

Avoid giving these foods in whole form to younger children:

• Whole grapes

• Whole hot dogs or cocktail sausages

• Nuts and peanuts

• Popcorn

• Hard candies

• Large chunks of meat or cheese

• Large marshmallows

If you serve them, cut grapes and hot dogs lengthwise into quarters, shred meats like turkey or ham, and break foods down into very small pieces. Any food that is round, hard, sticky or oversized is dangerous for young children.

2. A Simple Holiday Safety Check Can Go a Long Way

Holiday décor brings small, shiny items into the home, and kids love to explore. Check ornaments, beads, gift wrap accessories, batteries, barrettes, game pieces, and anything else that may fall to the floor during busy gatherings.

Follow this rule of thumb: If an item fits through a toilet paper tube, it is small enough for a child to choke on.

Beware the button batteries: Pay special attention to button batteries, which are common in holiday decorations, remote controls, flameless candles and toys. Button batteries can cause severe internal burns if swallowed. Look for packages with bitter coating, which taste unpleasant and encourage a child to spit the battery out instead of swallowing it.

3. Get to Know the Newly Updated Choking Relief Guidelines (Released October 2025!)

The American Heart Association recently updated its choking relief guidelines. These changes apply to both adults and children over one year of age.

For anyone older than one:

• If they are forcefully coughing strongly, speaking or breathing, they are not choking. Do not intervene.

• If the cough becomes weak, high pitched or ineffective, or their lips begin to turn blue, they need help.

• Ask, “Can I help you?” and gain consent before stepping in.

• Give 5 firm back slaps between the shoulder blades.

• If the object does not come out, give 5 abdominal thrusts, placing your fist right above the navel.

• Continue the pattern of 5 and 5 until the object is expelled or if they become unresponsive, then call 911 and begin CPR.

For infants under one:

• Look for very little noise, a pale face, high-pitched crowing noise, or blue lips.

• Give 5 back slaps.

• If that does not work, turn the baby over and give 5 chest thrusts using the heel of your hand.

• Only sweep a finger inside the mouth if you can clearly see the object.

Remember, gagging and choking are not the same. Gagging is loud with coughing and sometimes vomiting. Choking is silent and needs immediate help.

Help when you see it:

If a person is conscious, always ask for consent. In public settings like restaurants or holiday parties, ask the parent before assisting a child. People are often hesitant to get involved, but your quick action can save a life.

4. Cases of Cardiac Arrest Increase During the Holiday Season

According to the American Heart Association, the most common day of the year for heart attacks is Christmas day, December 25. The next most common days for heart attacks are December 26 and January 1. 

Why? It could be for many reasons:

1. Winter brings cold weather which can constrict blood vessels and create reduced blood flow.

2. Holidays can bring a lot of stress to people

3. There are. more parties where people tend to overindulge in foods and drinks.

4. People may tend to ignore or overlook symptoms of heart attack and stroke.

I've provided an infographic below listing the common heart attack warning signs. Feel free to save the image to keep on hand!

And of course, we should all know how to help a victim who loses consciousness and stops breathing and goes into cardiac arrest due to a heart attack. If you begin CPR immediately, you can double or triple the victim’s chance of survival.