Is there any inherent danger in falling asleep with gum in one’s mouth?
You mean besides the obvious choking hazard?
well how likely is it one would choke? Surely the gum ppl considered this?
Or do people put their gum on the headboard right before the go to sleep and then pop it back in their mouth in the morning, like Mike Teevee in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?
This just in:
http://www.colostate.edu/Orgs/safefood/NEWSLTR/v7n2s03.html
In the last issue of SafeFood News, (see SafeFood News, Vol VII, No. 1, “Konjac Candy is a Choking Hazard”), we reported on the complete recall of konjac candies after association of the candy with 6 choking deaths. According to a recent article in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), candy and gum were responsible for ¼ of all cases of choking-related episodes among children in 2001 that were treated in emergency rooms. The CDC report showed that over 17,500 children ages 14 and under were treated in emergency rooms for nonfatal choking problems in 2001. Of these visits, at least 60 percent were caused by food. While many culprits were identified, hard candy, gummy candy, and chewing gum were major culprits.
The American Medical Association recommends these tips to prevent food choking in young children:
Do not give children under age four, hard smooth foods like nuts, sunflower seeds, watermelon with seeds, cherries with pits, popcorn, hard candy, and some raw vegetables that can block the windpipe like carrots, peas, and celery.
Soft foods that can cause choking include hot dogs, sausage, grapes, caramels, chewing gum and peanut butter. Note: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that hot dogs and carrots be quartered lengthwise and then sliced into small pieces.
Babies with few teeth may choke on foods that are hard to chew like raw apples and pears.
Children should sit when eating and chew their foods completely and swallow before talking or laughing.
Choking may occur if children run, play sports, or ride in a car with gum, candy, or lollipops.
During parties and social events young children may have access to nuts and other foods that might cause choking. Check what is in reach and for dropped food.
I’ve never read the book, so it may be different than the movie. But…in the movie it was Violet Beaureguard who was the big gum chewer, not Mike Teevee.
You’re right about that, my bad. It’s been a while.