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Sunflower seeds likely caused tot's death

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 4, 2009

CLEARWATER - Investigators say a 15-month-old boy who died early Friday might have choked on sunflower seeds.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office reports that the toddler, Stephan Talley, was at his father's home, at 15461 Morgan St., when he began struggling to breathe about 11:30 p.m.

Stephan was in a bedroom with two other children when he began choking on a handful of sunflower seeds. The boy's father said he and other adults were regularly checking on Stephan and the other children, ages 6 and 3.

The father, Michael Hamilton, was called to the room, and after he and another family member cleared seeds from Stephan's mouth and performed CPR, the child began breathing.

Paramedics were taking Stephan to All Children's Hospital when his conditioned worsened. The ambulance was rerouted to Largo Medical Center, where Stephan was pronounced dead just after midnight.

The sheriff's office says the death appears to be accidental. An autopsy will determine the official cause of death. The investigation continues.

Most childhood choking injuries are associated with food items, such as hot dogs, candies, nuts, grapes, carrots and popcorn, according to Safe Kids USA, a childhood safety organization. The group recommends these types of foods be avoided or cut up into very small pieces for children younger than 3 years.

Children also should be taught to eat sitting up, and supervised at all times when eating.

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