Most of the time, small objects present no danger to a child if they are swallowed. “What goes in usually comes out the other end,” says Dr. Patti Primm, a Children’s Medical Center emergency room physician.

However, small objects such as coins can present a problem if they are lodged in the esophagus, Dr. Primm says. “If a coin or a sharp object hangs in the esophagus, it can erode the tissue, causing bleeding or an ulcer,” she says. If this happens, the child must seek emergency care.

Less frequently, children breathe in – or aspirate – small objects such as peanuts, popcorn and even pins and needles. If this happens, a parent or caregiver must bring the child to an emergency room where a physician can carefully remove the object and determine if any damage has been done. An aspirated object can cause a lung to collapse or cause a serious infection.

Dr. Primm recommends all parents and caregivers know cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the Heimlich maneuver and how to call for help in the event a child chokes on food or a small object.