Safe Kids Trident Area Reminds Parents of Top Toy Safety Tips This Holiday Season
December 12, 2014
700 Children a Day Treated in Emergency Rooms for Toy-Related Injury
CHARLESTON, SC – The holiday season is here and for many kids that means one thing: toys. Approximately 50 percent of all toy purchases in the United States occur between the Friday after Thanksgiving and Christmas. While parents are on a mad-dash to scoop up the hottest toys, Safe Kids Trident Area advises that safety should be at the top of their wish lists.
To learn more toy safety tips, visit: http://bit.ly/1851YAC
An estimated 262,300 children were treated in emergency rooms for toy-related injuries in 2011, and more than a third of toy-related injuries are in children ages 4 and under.
“Seven hundred children a day are treated in emergency rooms for toy-related injuries,” said Jennifer Winkelmann, coordinator of Safe Kids Trident Area. “Right now parents and caregivers are in the middle of the country’s busiest toy-buying season. It’s a great time to think about fun as well as safety by making sure toys are appropriate for a child’s age and maturity level. The first step is to read the warning label to make sure your child will be safe while playing with the new toy.
If secondhand toys are purchased, or received from friends or relatives, Safe Kids Trident Area advisesparents to visit www.cpsc.gov and make sure the toy hasn’t been recalled for safety reasons. Used toys should also be in good condition with all original parts and packaging, if possible. If a new toy comes with a product registration card, it is helpful for parents to mail it in so the manufacturer can be in contact if the item is ever recalled.
In addition, Safe Kids Trident Area recommends the following 5 toy safety tips.
- Consider your child’s age when purchasing a toy or game. It’s worth a second to read the instructions and warning labels to make sure it’s just right for your child.
- Keep a special eye on small game pieces that may be a choking hazard for young children.While these kinds of games are great for older kids, they can pose a potential danger for younger, curious siblings.
- After play time is over, use a bin or container to store toys for next time. Make sure there are no holes or hinges that could catch little fingers.
- Keep button battery-controlled devices out of sight and reach of children. These include remote controls, singing greeting cards, digital scales, watches, hearing aids, thermometers, children’s toys, calculators, key fobs, tea light candles, flashing holiday jewelry or decorations.
- Stay informed about harmful products in the marketplace. Safe Kids will make it easy for you by sending an e-mail alert twice a month. Parents can sign up at www.safekids.org/product-recalls.
For more information about toy safety call Jennifer Winkelmann at 843-792-5327 or visitwww.safekids.org.
About Safe Kids Trident Area
Safe Kids Trident Area works to prevent unintentional childhood injury, the number one cause of death for children in the United States. Its partners include local fire, EMS and police personnel. Safe Kids Trident Area is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing unintentional injury. Safe Kids Trident Area was founded in 1996 and is led by MUSC Children’s Hospital. For more information, visit safekids.org or musckids.org.
