How many times have you walked inside a toy store, purchased a birthday or Christmas gift, and thought, ‘How safe is this toy?’ Probably not often.
However, the likelihood of a small child having a toy-related injury increases during the holidays, say child-safety advocates. They are advising parents and relatives to help reduce injury by making sure the toy is age appropriate, good supervise play and assure that the child has proper safety equipment such as helmet or knee pads.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that more than 120,000 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms for toy-related injuries each year. Additionally, there were 17 reports of toy-related deaths in kids younger than 15 in the U.S.
Most deaths occurred, said CPSC, when kids choked on an object such as a rubber ball, or drowned by trying to retrieve a toy.
“Toys are an important part of holiday gift-giving, and CPSC is on the job 365 days a year to make sure toys are as safe as possible,” said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown. “CPSC’s goal is to prevent deaths and injuries; unfortunately, each year some children are hurt by toys. By always reading labels and being safety conscious, parents and caregivers can help prevent toy-related injuries.”
It’s important to be mindful of age recommendations on toys. Although it is a guide to the child’s interest and skill level, if the recommended age is for children over 3, do not purchase the toy for a 2-year-old.
Safety tips provided by CPSC include:
• Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills, and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards to younger children.
• Check instructions for clarity. They should be clear to you, and when appropriate, to the child.
• Do not purchase electric toys with heating elements for children under age 8.
• Look for sturdy construction, such as tightly secured eyes, noses, and other potential small parts.
Most importantly child safety advocates and CPSC advise using common sense along with the safety suggestions.
