To decrease suffocation remove any window cords, plastic bags and small clothing parts, especially for children and if you or someone is choking and suffocating you can use back blows and abdominal thrusts.
If you're short of breath you can prevent suffocation by practicing abdominal breathing and in a medical emergency when someone is suffocating or can't breathe you should call 911 and get emergency services immediately.
For kids to prevent suffocation, keep any plastic bags, plastic wrap and large boxes away from a child and supervise children when playing and watch for any small objects like buttons which can be swallowed and keep any cords, including from window coverings, draperies and other sources out of reach.
If you're experiencing shortness of breath, try inhaling slowly through your nose, then exhale slowly through pursed lips as if you're blowing out a candle.
Also sit or stand and lean forward, resting your hands on your knees or a table to relax your shoulders and open up the chest.
Four things you can do to prevent suffocation are to cut food into small pieces, chew food slowly and thoroughly don't talk or laugh when chewing and swallowing and never put an infant down on a mattress that is covered with plastic.
Other things you can do to prevent suffocation in babies is to never use pillows, blankets, stuffed animals or other plush toys in a crib.
Avoid using crib bumpers and make sure the baby's crib mattress is the correct size and fits properly and snugly in the crib.
Never allow babies and toddlers to play with plastic bags as they could get it over their head and suffocate.
And foods such as grapes, popcorn, nuts, raw carrots and vegetables, hot dogs should be cut in coin shapes, hard foods, hard candy, cough drops, gum, and globs of peanut butter especially with white bread should be avoided in toddlers.
To avoid suffocation in a room you should open windows for at least 15 minutes a day and often before 10:00 A.M. and after 9:00 P.M.
Also use an air extractor in damp rooms, like the kitchen, bathroom etc and fit any windows with ventilation grilles if possible.
And every 3 months you should clean filters in mechanical ventilation systems if you have them.
If someone is choking, encourage them to cough.
Bend them forwards and give up to 5 back blows to try and dislodge the blockage.
If they are still choking, give up to 5 abdominal thrusts: hold around the waist and pull inwards and upwards above their belly button.
To prevent choking in children.
Teach your child not to put objects in their mouth.
Know what things a child is likely to choke on.
Test small objects by passing them through a toilet-paper tube.
Look for age guidelines when selecting toys.
If you feel like you're suffocating you can do the following.
Lie down and place the hands on the abdomen.
Breathe in deeply through the nose, expanding the abdomen and letting the lungs fill with air.
Hold the breath for a couple of seconds.
Breathe out slowly through the mouth, emptying the lungs.
If you feel like you cannot breathe and nothing is working you should call 911 for help.