Dear dsprinctx-ga;
Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to answer your interesting
question.
ABSOULUTELY! You CAN choke to death on ice – or anything else that
will obstruct breathing for that matter!
Normally, when we swallow food, it passes through the pharynx (the
canal that connects the mouth with the esophagus) and into the
esophagus. At this point, the epiglottis, a small cartilage that acts
like a valve, moves down to meet the larynx (voice box) and closes
tightly to prevent anything from entering the lungs through the
trachea (windpipe). Suffice it to say that ANYTHING that lodges in the
pharynx will cause the epiglottis to remain closed, partially or
completely obstructing one’s breathing.
Now, I sense that there will be some argument that since ice obviously
melts at 98.6 degrees (body temperature) it might melt before
unconsciousness and death result. It should be noted that choking
deaths also commonly occur as a direct result of aspiration of liquids
into the lungs, rather than lodged solids. If a person were to become
unconscious while a piece of ice were lodge in his throat, he could
certainly die from the melting liquid in the same manner in which a
person dies from drowning. On the other hand, a person who has a NEAR
DEATH choking experience and aspirates fluid into the lungs, yet
survives the incident, is at risk of developing aspiration pneumonia,
which is sometimes fatal, especially if the aspirated material
contained harmful bacteria. In addition, if the episode results in the
vomiting of the victim, the aspirated material can easily be
contaminated with a tremendous amount of bacteria from the stomach
contents, potentially causing this same result – aspiration pneumonia.
I hope you find that that my research exceeds your expectations. If
you have any questions about my research please post a clarification
request prior to rating the answer. I welcome your rating and your
final comments and I look forward to working with you again in the
near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.
Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga
DEFINITIONS:
“ASPHYXIATION: is a loss of consciousness due to the presence of too
little oxygen or too much carbon dioxide in the blood. The victim may
stop breathing for a number of reasons (i.e. drowning, electric shock,
heart failure, poisoning, or suffocation). The flow of oxygen
throughout the body stops within a matter of minutes if a person's
respiratory system fails. Heart failure, brain damage, and eventual
death will result if the victim's breathing cannot be restarted.”
http://www.expage.com/page/asphyxiation
ASPIRATION: “To draw in or out using suction. The term can refer to
inhaling purposefully (such as breathing in oxygen or inhalants) or
inhaling accidentally (such as sucking food into the airway). May also
refer to medical interventions to remove harmful substances (such as
air, body fluids, or bone fragments) or to remove tissue samples for
testing. Related topics: foreign body in the airway foreign body nose
aspiration pneumonia”
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002216.htm
ASPIRATION PNEUMONIA: “Aspiration pneumonia is an inflammation of the
lungs and bronchial tubes caused by inhaling foreign material, usually
food, drink, vomit, or secretions from the mouth into the lungs. This
may progress to form a collection of pus in the lungs (lung abscess).”
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000121.htm
INFORMATION SOURCES
WONDERQUEST
http://www.wonderquest.com/swallowing-lemmings-fahrenheit.htm
WEBMD
“Epiglottis”
http://www.mythos.com/webmd/Content.aspx?P=TONGUE&E=1
ASPHYXIATION
http://www.expage.com/page/asphyxiation
MEDLINE
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002216.htm
MEDLINE
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000121.htm
SEARCH STRATEGY
SEARCH ENGINE USED:
Google ://www.google.com
SEARCH TERMS USED:
“CHOKE ON ICE”
ICE “CHOKING HAZARD”
ASPIRATION
ASPIRATION PNEUMONIA
ASPHYXIATION |
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