Steps to keep kids safe
While you can’t remove every risk, you can reduce it significantly:
Inspect treats: Remove small, hard, sticky, or chewy candies for younger children.
Encourage safe eating: Have kids sit down to eat instead of snacking while running or playing.
Check costumes and props: Avoid loose buttons, beads, balloons, or small parts.
Teach awareness: Older kids should chew slowly, avoid rough play while eating, and understand choking risks.
Learn life-saving skills: Abdominal thrusts for older children and adults, infant back blows and chest thrusts for babies, and CPR if unresponsive.
Download the Halloween Safety Checklist (PDF) Here >
Be ready, not fearful
Preparation turns panic into action. In a choking emergency, there’s no time to second-guess — survival can come down to seconds. True confidence doesn’t come from reading about it once. It comes from learning, practicing, and knowing you’ll be ready when it matters most. CPR, choking-response, and AED skills aren’t just for medical professionals — they’re essential for parents, teachers, coaches, and caregivers who may be the first to act in a crisis.
At DBR Global, our mission is to Protect ∙ Support ∙ Strengthen families and communities through hands-on safety training that is practical, approachable, and empowering. This Halloween, keep the scares in the costumes — not in the candy bag. With preparation, you’re not only protecting your loved ones but strengthening your entire community. Stay prepared, stay confident, and protect what matters most.
BOOK TRAININGThe scope of the problem
Choking is one of the leading causes of preventable injury and death in the United States. In 2022, more than 5,500 people died from choking, and children are especially vulnerable. Emergency departments treat over 12,000 children each year for food-related choking incidents. On average, a child dies every five days from choking.
These numbers haven’t improved in recent years. In fact, nonfatal choking events among children are slowly rising. Projections suggest the U.S. could see 5,500–5,800 choking deaths in 2025 unless awareness and prevention become stronger.
Why children are at greater risk
Children under age 5 account for the majority of choking incidents. Their airways are tiny — as narrow as a drinking straw — leaving little margin for error. Without molars, young children can’t chew food thoroughly, often swallowing chunks that can block the airway.
On Halloween, the risks multiply. Hard candies, popcorn balls, gum, and sticky caramels are common treats but are also some of the most dangerous choking hazards. Add in beads, glow sticks, and small costume parts, and the chance of an accident rises dramatically. Excitement makes it worse — kids eat while walking, running, or laughing, when the risk of inhaling food is highest.
Why seconds matter
Unlike most injuries, choking is silent. A child may suddenly go quiet, clutching their throat in panic. Within 2–3 minutes, brain injury begins, and by 4–6 minutes, death is likely. That’s why quick recognition and immediate action are critical — parents and bystanders can’t wait for emergency responders.
