Accidental swallowing of cigarettes

Cigarettes make one-third of accidental swallowing cases involving small children, a government survey by Japan showed.

The survey was organized by Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and included the data from hospitals across the country during the year 2010. Most of the children were 6 months to 18 months old.
These cases are characteristic of Japanese living style – people live on tatami mat-covered floors and often put cigarettes on floors and low tables within the reach of babies. A ministry official called on parents to pay attention to prevent children from swallowing cigarettes by accident.
In the survey, medicines came in second highest at 18% of the total, followed by toys at 7.8% and plastic items at 5.2%.
Cigarettes accounted for about 50% of the total in the 1990s and the ratio has fallen to the lower half of the 30% level in recent years.