Balloons Top List of Objects That Cause Choking Deaths

Balloons kill more children than any other toy except bicycles and other riding devices, according to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Assn. While food is still the major culprit in choking cases, the report said that balloons lead the list when it comes to man-made objects.

Researchers at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh found that balloons were responsible for 29% of choking fatalities. Round objects, such as marbles, accounted for 19% of such deaths and toy products or parts accounted for 20%. The remaining 32% of deaths were caused by products not intended for use by young children, such as batteries and coins.