As the holiday gift-giving season is upon us, so begins our shopping for the toys we enjoy giving the special children in our lives. Selecting the right toy can be a challenge as there are millions from which to choose and new ones appearing on the shelves each year. Although toys are intended to be fun, they can be pose hazards to their users if not soundly designed and constructed or if the toy is not intended for the age of its user. Nationwide, nearly 173,000 children (ages 14 and under) were treated in hospital emergency rooms for toy-related injuries last year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Check the National Safe Kids Campaign web site, www.safekids.org, for updates and information on recent toy recalls.
Do you know what toys are safe for your child? When evaluating the ones you are considering this year, remember to:
- Consider the child’s age, interests and skill level. Look for quality in design and construction, and follow age and safety recommendations on labels.
- Consider purchasing a small parts tester (also known as a choke tube) to determine whether small toys may present a choking hazard to children under the age of three. Small parts testers or choke tubes can be purchased at toy or baby specialty stores.
- Avoid toys with sharp points or edges, toys that produce loud sounds, or projectiles (ie. darts, firing rockets).
- Avoid toys with strings, straps or cords longer than seven inches that may pose a risk for strangulation.
- Avoid electric-powered toys with heating elements for children under the age of eight.
- Avoid cap guns as the caps they use can be ignited by the slightest friction and can cause serious burns.
Guest “Line of Duty” Author: Fire Marshal Alan Perkins, CFPS, Washington Township Fire Department, Dublin, Ohio. For more information, contact: Leslie Dybiec, Public Information Officer Phone: (614) 652-3928 Fax: (614) 766-2507 or ldybiec@wtwp.com.
Images provided by Google.
Live Safe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making fire safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. Live Safe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. Live Safe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.
Tags: Gifts, holiday giving, kids, product safety, toy recall, toys
