Choking is most common among children younger than 4 years of age, with the peak occurring in the first year. Round, firm food products (e.g., pieces of hot dog, candy, nuts, raw vegetable, grapes) are the most common airway-blocking agents in early childhood. Also choked on are small objects like round or pliable toys (e.g., small balls, uninflated balloons), pop tops, safety pins, and coins. Older children and adults usually choke on meat.

Drowning is second only to transportation injuries as a cause of unintentional injury death for children and adolescents. Drowning death rates peak at 1 to 2 years of age and again in older adolescence.

Most toddler and preschooler drownings occur when a briefly unattended child falls into a body of water. Toddlers can drown in any amount of water that is deep enough to cover the nose and mouth: diaper pail, toilet bowl, large bucket and bath tub.