| Toy safety from MSN |
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Toy related injuries among kids have been reported worldwide; with a considerable percentage involving kids under five years. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), reported that an estimated 210,300 toy-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms in 2004.Of those, 35 percent (72,800) involved kids under 5. Although most toy-related injuries are minor, serious injuries can be caused by dangerous toys or misuse. Mama Support Network(MSN), brings you a guideline on how to avoid such tragedies.
Common causes of toy-related injuries include: Something as innocent as a doll or teddy bear may quickly become a hazard when your child pulls off an eye, removes a button, or exposes a sharp edge. • Small, loose, or broken toys and parts. Small toys parts can be lodged in a child’s ear, nose, or throat. Un-inflated or popped balloons pose a choking risk. • Loose string, rope, ribbons, or cord. These items can easily get tangled around your child’ neck and lead to strangulation. Dangling objects like crib mobiles can become deadly, as can the strings or cords tied to pacifiers. • Noisy toys. Musical toys, toy guns, phones, horns, sirens and even squeaky rubber toys can produce noise as high as 90 to 120 decibels. When held directly to the ear, as children often do, a noisy toy can expose the ear to 120dB of sound – enough to pain, damage ear or result in permanent hearing loss . (Many toys have volume settings or you can place strong cell tape over the speakers to reduce the noise). • Riding toys. Rolling or riding toys should not be used near any steps or swimming pools. Riding toys easily tip over. Your child may not be physically ready for a riding toy. • Beach and pool toys. Many are not approved flotation devices and will not keep your child or infant afloat. • Toy chests and storage containers. Trunks or chests can pinch or even break tiny fingers if the lid closes suddenly. Chests without safety support hinge traps can strangle a child. Toddler can lean over and fall into the chest and can suffocate if trapped inside. Open baskets or containers without lids are safest for toy storage. • Playing unsupervised. Injuries often occur when children are not supervised or allowed to improperly play with toys. If you are not sure about a toy’s safety or proper use, you can research the toys on the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC at www.cpsc.gov) as well as the Public Research Interest Group. Both maintain official toy recall lists and provide lists of potentially hazardous toys. 2. Buy large, strong, and sturdy. Make sure toys are larger than your child’s mouth to prevent choking. Older children toys and game pieces should be kept separately from toys for younger children. When buying soft or stuffed animals, ensure the eyes, nose and small parted are securely attached. Try to buy machine washable soft toys. Remove loose ribbons or strings to avoid strangulation. Avoid toys containing small bean-like pellets or stuffing, as these can easily cause suffocation if swallowed. 3. Avoid loud or shrill sounding toys. Protect your child’s hearing. Ask to hear the toys in the store before taking them home. 4. Avoid toys that shoot small objects into the air. Flying saucers or projecting tiny balls are toys often found as part of birthday party gift bags. Eye injuries can result from toys that shoot plastic objects and should be avoided. 5. Make sure the toy is non-toxic (phthalate free). Look for paint sets, crayons and markers that are labeled nontoxic. Small batteries (often found in toy phones) are not only toxic but can pose a choking or swallowing hazard. Phthalates,chemicals used to soften plastic materials, have been linked to cancer and reproductive problems. Play cosmetic sets and polymer clays for crafts may have these chemicals. Check the label and avoid toys that are not ‘phthalate-free’. 6. Electric toys should be “UL Approved” which is Underwriters Laboratories. However, even UL-approved toys can burn or shock if the cord is frayed or the toyed is misused. 7. Avoid magnetic toys for children under 6. Eight million magnetic toys have been recalled in recent years. If a child swallows magnets or a magnet and metal, they can attract to each other through the intestinal wall causing blockage, infection, or holes. 8. Store toys properly and keep in good condition. The best toy chest is a basket or box without a lid or on a shelving unit (that is nailed to the wall and cannot tip over). Never store a toy in the original packaging. Staples and plastic wrap can lead to choking. Examine toys regularly and look for damage or broken parts, splinters on wooden toys, loose eyes on dolls, or rust on metal toys. If in doubt about the toy’s safety – throw it away! To learn and discuss more about toy safety and other safety issues for children, please join the Mama’s Support Network Discussion Forum on Saturday 19 June from 10:00 – 11:30 at Amani ya Juu (off Riverside Drive). |
for my kids.keep us posted on how to keep our kids safe.
DOROTHY MOHAT