Seemingly Harmless Things that Can Cause Serious Injury and Death

Remember how President George W. Bush choked on a pretzel? It's more common than you'd expect. Choking is the eighth most common cause of accidental injury death in the United States, according to the National Safety Council. It's especially common in young kids and in the elderly, although it can and does happen to people of all ages. Hot dogs are especially dangerous. Stay safe: Cut up your food into smaller pieces. If you're serving hot dogs to kids, cut them longwise and in tiny bits. Chew your food carefully. Don't talk with your mouth full. Read what the Red Cross has to say about how to respond if someone is choking.