CHRISTMAS is a magical season for children. Visions long ago may have included sugarplums. Today’s children are likely dreaming of toys, toys and more toys.
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But more toys can mean more toy related injuries.
Dr. Natalie Lane is medical director of the Children’s Hospital of Georgia Emergency Department. “Children should be enjoying their time with toys, not be placed in jeopardy,” she said.
Dr Lane recommends some common sense approaches to reducing the risk of injury for the children on your Christmas list.
1. Choose age-appropriate toys. Select toys to suit the child’s age, abilities, skills and interest level. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children.
2. Read instructions carefully. Before buying a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy received as a gift, read the instructions carefully.
3. Protect their heads. If children have their hearts set on a new bike, skateboard, scooter or other riding equipment, be sure to include a helmet to keep them safe while they’re having fun. Those added safety devices can be great gifts from grandparents or other family members.
4. Avoid burn and shock hazards. To prevent the possibility of both burns and electrical shocks, choose battery-operated toys for children under the age of 10 years. Children this young should not be plugging things into an electrical outlet.
5. Beware of choking and strangulation hazards. Children under the age of 8 years are at risk of choking on small parts contained in toys or games. They can also choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Tags, strings and ribbons can pose the risk of strangulation. Be sure to remove them from toys before giving them to young children. Also avoid pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches long.
6. Be careful with button batteries and powerful magnets. Children can have serious stomach and intestinal problems – including death – after swallowing button batteries or magnets. In addition to toys, button batteries are often found in musical greeting cards, remote controls, hearing aids, and other small electronics. Small, powerful magnets are present in many homes as part of building toy sets. Keep button batteries and magnets away from young children, and seek emergency medical help immediately if your child swallows one.
7. Supervise play. You should always supervise your children at play. Minimize your distractions and take part in some of their fun.
8. Store toys properly. Parents and caregivers should store toys in a designated location, such as on a shelf or in a toy box, and keep older children’s toys out of reach of young children. To prevent potential entrapment, use a toy box with no lid or a lightweight, non-locking lid and ventilation holes.
“So whether your children are working on a puzzle (remember those things?), or riding a bike, recognize the potential risk. Play smart!” Dr Lane said.
