A nurse is providing education to a group of parents of toddlers about household items that can be swallowed and block the airway of their child. The nurse should include the following item as a risk for aspiration?

A. Hairbrush. A standard hairbrush is typically too large to be completely aspirated into the narrow trachea of a toddler. While it may pose a risk for oral or esophageal trauma, it does not fit the profile of a small, smooth object that can bypass the epiglottis. Prevention focuses on smaller, rounder items that easily occlude the subglottic space. B. Television remote control. The main hazard of a remote control is the ingestion of button batteries rather than the device itself blocking the airway. While the battery is a critical corrosive risk, the remote is an external household object. Educators must prioritize teaching parents about the small, loose components inside electronic devices. C. Detergent pods. These items are highly dangerous due to their size, shape, and bright colors which attract toddlers to put them in their mouths. The soft, slippery exterior can easily slide into the airway, causing a mechanical obstruction. If the pod bursts, the concentrated chemicals cause rapid mucosal edema and chemical pneumonitis, further compromising the respiratory tract. D. Tennis ball. A regulation tennis ball is significantly larger than the oral cavity of a 2-year-old child. It is physically impossible for a toddler to aspirate a ball of this diameter into the glottic opening. Small balls, such as marbles or bouncy balls, are the specific objects included in aspiration risk education.