Ways to Help Your Child Avoid Toy Injuries

As a parent or a family member of someone with a child you want to see the child in your life excited when they get the present they have been wanting during the holiday season but more importantly than getting the perfect gift you will also want to make sure the gift is safe. 

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) there were approximately 235,300 toy related injuries that were treated at the emergency room in 2008.  Because there was such a significant number of children that were injured last year it is important that we make sure to keep the children in our life safe by following a few simple tips that were offered recently by the technical director of SGS Consumer Testing Services, Malcolm Denniss.

• Make sure the game or toy is age appropriate for the child - checking and following the age guidelines posted on toys and games is important and was put there by the CPSC who researches what group is age appropriate for the toy based on what injuries and dangers it can cause to children of different age groups.
  
• Check toys for damage - You should check your childrens toys periodically for wear and tear and to make sure there are no broken parts but the CPSC is also advising that parents check their childrens toys periodically after they first receive them.  The reason they are now recommending this is because children tend to over-play with toys when they first receive them especially during the holiday season when they are on a break from school and have a lot of time to play with their new toys.  Not only do children tend to play with toys more when they first get them but they also tend to play with them rougher because of the excitement of receiving a new toy.  If you notice that one of your childrens' toys is breaking or falling apart the toy should be taken away from the child immediately to avoid a toy related injury such as choking or lacerations from sharp parts.
  
• Check for recall notices - You can check toy recalls with the toy or department store or check it online through either our injury blog section on our website or the CPSC website (which is updated with any toys that have been recalled).  Checking for recall notices will help you avoid purchasing any products that have been recalled if a store did not pull them off of the shelves yet or if you have already purchased the toy.  Defective recalled childrens products injure many children every year.  Following a product recall notice can help your child avoid things from a laceration to a life threatening injury.
  
• Check with the parent to find out what is age appropriate - If you are buying a toy for a child that you are not around all of the time you may want to check with the child's parents to find out what type of toys they think are age appropriate.  Some children may be old enough for a toy that is for three years of age and older but their parents may think that they are not mature enough for the toy.  Checking with the parent or legal guardian will help you understand what give is appropriate for the child. 
• Teach kids outdoor and indoor safety - Teaching a child about the dangers of running after a ball into the street and throwing things around in house is important in keeping your child injury free.  Allowing your child to understand that dangers do exist and what to do to avoid them is a very important step in keeping your children from needing to make a trip to the ER for injuries that could be avoided.