Holiday Help For Safe Toys
As the holiday shopping season is now upon us, parents are hitting the stores to find the perfect gifts for their young ones this winter. But before you whip out those wallets, there are some tips for toy safety that should be considered.
1) Choking is the most common cause of toy-related deaths. Parents and caregivers should avoid buying small toys or toys with small parts for children under 3 years old. If you have doubts about what “small” means, use the toilet paper roll test. If a toy fits into a cardboard toilet paper roll, than it can probably get lodged into your child’s throat.
2)Keep magnetic toys away from children under 6 years old. These magnets are not weak refrigerator magnets. These are powerful magnets that, if swallowed, can attract to each other in the body and can cause life-threatening complications. If your child swallows even one magnet, you should seek medical attention immediately.
3)Be cautious of potentially toxic toys. The recent recall of millions of lead-tainted toys has made the need for caution evident. If you’re worried that your child’s toy may contain lead, home lead test kits are available at hardware stores. It is your responsibility as the parent to make sure every toy that your child owns is safe. If you think a toy is dangerous throw it out! If you hear about a similar product to something you own being recalled get rid of the toy. Your child’s health is simply more important. You can find about recalled toys at www.cpsc.gov
4)Report dangerous toys to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you think a toy is hazardous, contact the CPSC and file a report. You can contact them at 1-800-638-2772 or at info@cpsc.gov.
To view our entire list of toy safety tips go to our Trouble in Toyland report or to our brochure on toy safety.
Have a safe and happy holiday!
1) Choking is the most common cause of toy-related deaths. Parents and caregivers should avoid buying small toys or toys with small parts for children under 3 years old. If you have doubts about what “small” means, use the toilet paper roll test. If a toy fits into a cardboard toilet paper roll, than it can probably get lodged into your child’s throat.
2)Keep magnetic toys away from children under 6 years old. These magnets are not weak refrigerator magnets. These are powerful magnets that, if swallowed, can attract to each other in the body and can cause life-threatening complications. If your child swallows even one magnet, you should seek medical attention immediately.
3)Be cautious of potentially toxic toys. The recent recall of millions of lead-tainted toys has made the need for caution evident. If you’re worried that your child’s toy may contain lead, home lead test kits are available at hardware stores. It is your responsibility as the parent to make sure every toy that your child owns is safe. If you think a toy is dangerous throw it out! If you hear about a similar product to something you own being recalled get rid of the toy. Your child’s health is simply more important. You can find about recalled toys at www.cpsc.gov
4)Report dangerous toys to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you think a toy is hazardous, contact the CPSC and file a report. You can contact them at 1-800-638-2772 or at info@cpsc.gov.
To view our entire list of toy safety tips go to our Trouble in Toyland report or to our brochure on toy safety.
Have a safe and happy holiday!
Labels: environmental health, lead
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