Published: November 25, 2009 01:43 pm      

Safe & Sound reminds parents to beware of toy dangers this holiday season

CHATTANOOGA —�With more than 65 percent of the toys bought in the United States between the Friday after Thanksgiving and Christmas, parents and caregivers are heading into the country’s busiest toy-buying season. During this holiday season, Safe & Sound, an injury prevention service of T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital at Erlanger, reminds parents to do their homework before hitting the toy stores.

Each year, approximately 173,000 toy-related injuries are treated in hospital emergency rooms nationwide. Furthermore, 19 toy-related deaths occurred in 2008. “Shoppers need to be even more informed than usual to make certain they buy safe, age-appropriate toys,” explained Cindy Jackson, Safe & Sound program lead. “Even though most toys on the shelves are considered safe, it doesn’t mean parents shouldn’t take an active role in keeping their kids protected from possible hazards.”

So far this year, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has had 38 total toy recalls, which is a decline from 162 recalls last year. CPSC attributes this decrease to enforcement at the ports, cooperation with other nations, consumer awareness and education and compliance by the industry with new federal safety rules.

During a recent press conference at Learning Express of Chattanooga, Safe & Sound demonstrated the importance of selecting age appropriate toys. “Before shopping for toys this season, consider the child’s age, interest and skill level,” announced Mrs. Jackson. “Not only is it important to purchase safe toys, parents should also supervise children when they play and set good examples of safe play.”

Non-motorized scooters and other riding toys such as skateboards, bicycles, ATV’s, mini-motorcycles and other electric riding toys tend to be popular purchases during this time of year and are citied as some of the most dangerous. Due to this fact, Safe & Sound reminds parents that approximately 40 percent of all toy-related injuries involve riding toys. Shoppers need to remember that no riding toy is complete without a helmet and protective gear.

“While a helmet can reduce the risk of head injuries, there are no safety devices that adequately protect against other injuries commonly sustained while riding ATVs,” says Marisa Moyers, pediatric trauma outreach coordinator at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital. “Accordingly, Safe & Sound strongly recommends that children under the age of 16 should never ride on or operate ATVs of any size.”

Safe & Sound also recommends the following:

Make sure to buy age-appropriate toys- All toys are clearly marked if they have small parts. Follow the recommendations on the packaging carefully and do not allow children under age 3 to play with toys belonging to an older sibling.

Inspect toys closely- Identify dangerous small parts that could pose as a choking hazard and do not let young children play with toys that have straps, cords or strings longer than seven inches, due to the risk of strangulation.

Actively supervise your children- Caregivers should take an active role while children are playing with any toy that has small parts, moving parts, electrical or battery power, cords, wheels or any other potentially risky component.

Practice proper storage- Teach children to put toys away after playing to help prevent falls and unsupervised play. Also make sure toys intended for younger children are stored separately from those purchased for older children. Toy chests should be equipped or retrofitted with safety hinges that prevent the lid from closing on a child who is leaning over the open chest. If a chest does not have safety hinges, remove the lid.

To stay informed, Safe & Sound recommends that parents sign up for emails that will keep them up-to-date on toy recalls. To sign up for these notifications, visit www.cpsc.gove and click on sign up for email announcements. Parents can also visit www.toysafety.org or www.uspirg.org to find information on the latest recalls and warnings.

For more information about toy safety, protective equipment and choking hazards, visit www.wsa.safekids.org or contact Safe & Sound at (423) 778-6691.

Safe & Sound is a prevention service of T.C. Thompson Children’ Hospital at Erlanger and is an affiliate of Safe Kids Worldwide, the first and only nonprofit organization dedicated solely to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury, the leading cause of death in children 14 and under.