While it’s easy to get wrapped up in the fun and joy of giving during the holiday season, it's incredibly important to keep little ones' safety in mind. Introduced to raise awareness and increase knowledge on common dangers, December is Safe Toys and Gifts Month. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2014, 251,800 children, 73 percent of which were under the age of 15, were seen in emergency departments for toy-related injuries.
The Parkview safety directors offer the following advice for observing toy safety this holiday season.
4 Tips for Toy Safety
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Stay away from toys with sharp edges, cords or small parts. If a toy is small enough to fit through a toilet paper roll, it can cause a child to choke. Remove strings and ribbons from toys before giving them to little ones to prevent strangulation.
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Choose battery-operated toys, rather than toys that need an outlet, for kids younger than 10.
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Only adults or older children should replace light bulbs in toys to ensure proper wattage.
- Teach older kids to keep their toys away from little siblings.
More warnings from the Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Keep deflated balloons away from children younger than 8. Discard broken balloons at once.
- Get the right size helmets and safety gear for children using bikes, scooters, skateboards and skates. Ensure they are worn properly while riding or skating.
- Beware of high-powered magnet sets. They are dangerous and should be kept away from children under 14. Building and play sets with small magnets should also be kept away from small children.
