How to Avoid Swallowing a Fish Bone

Having fish for dinner can be delicious, but swallowing a fish bone is anything but pleasant. Fish bones can become lodged in the throat and pose a major choking hazard. Before consuming fish it is important to carefully inspect and remove all visible bones.

1. Inspect the piece of fish for any large bones that are visible. Immediately pick these out with your fingers or a fork. Place these bones in a garbage can if you have access or on a napkin beside your plate. Avoid placing them directly on your plate, as they may accidently get eaten. It might be easier to start at one end of the fish and work your way to the other. Turn the fish over and repeat the process for the other side.

2. Use your fork to pick off small, bite size pieces of the fish. Inspect the pieces for bones. Feeling the fish with your fingers will make locating any remaining bones easier. If you see or feel any pick them out and place them on your napkin. If you are preparing food for a small child, make sure to mash the fish into pieces, after removing any bones. Be extra diligent, as children may not be as aware of fish bones.  

3. Chew the fish. If you feel anything unusual or tough spit the food into a napkin. You will have removed any large bones in the above processes, but smaller bones may still be present.