Approximately 1,000 choking victims are between the ages of 45 and 74. Trying to swallow large pieces of poorly chewed food. Drinking alcohol before or during meals. Alcohol dulls the nerves that aid in swallowing.
Dentures make it difficult to sense whether food is fully chewed before it is swallowed.
Eating while talking excitedly or laughing. Eating too fast. Walking, playing, or running with food or objects in the mouth. These are just some of the causes of choking. If you want to learn more about the signals of choking or the care needed to give to a person who is choking, sign up for a American Red Cross CPR course .