Toys are designed to entertain and educate children. However, when used improperly, toys can cause choking, injury and even death.
To prepare families for the holiday season, Cara Fast, manager of the Riley Safety Store at Indiana University Health, discusses common toy-related injuries and how you can keep your children safe.
What are the most common toy-related injuries?
The most common type of injury is choking on small toy parts, balloons and small balls. Young children under the age of 3, with the desire to put everything in their mouths, are at greater risk due to the small size of their upper airways. Other common injuries include minor cuts, bruises and abrasions.
Can my child die from these injuries?
Yes. The leading cause of toy-related deaths are from accidents on non-motorized scooters and other riding toys. Deaths can occur when a child falls from a riding toy or rides a toy into a pool or other body of water. About 75 percent of deaths on riding toys involve other motor vehicles.
Choking is another leading cause of toy-related deaths. About 40 percent of choking deaths occur when a child chokes on under inflated or broken latex balloons. Avoid giving latex balloons to children under 8.
How can I be sure I am buying safe toys for my child?
Pay close attention to labels – toys should be fire resistant and nontoxic. Also, pick toys that are appropriate for a child’s age and stage of development. Toys approved for older children often have smaller parts that can be hazardous to young children. If the toy or toy parts fit in the cardboard tube from a roll of toilet paper, it’s too small for young children.
What else can I do to ensure my child’s safety?
Parents should always supervise children while playing with toys – this is instrumental in preventing accidental injuries. Learn first aid and CPR so that you can be prepared if your child chokes or is injured while playing with a toy.
If there are multiple children in the house, parents should keep toys separated by age group. Remind older children not to give their toys to younger siblings without asking an adult first.
Toys to avoid
n Do not buy toys with strings or cords that may get wrapped around a child’s neck and cause strangulation.
n Avoid toys with projectile parts. These toys can hit children in the eyes, and they lead to many emergency room visits during the holidays.
n To help prevent burns and electrical shock, avoid giving toys that must be plugged into an electrical outlet to children under 10.
n Avoid purchasing toys that have batteries or magnets which can be removed easily and may cause serious internal injuries or death if swallowed.
n Avoid toys made from thin plastic that will break easily. Choose toys with smooth and rounded edges.
The Riley Safety Store at IU Health offers a variety of low-cost child safety products and staff members can provide the best safety techniques. For more information on toy safety, call 1-888-365-2022 or visit www.rileyhospital.org.
