Chances are your kids are telling you about the toys they want for Christmas. However, one thing to keep in mind when purchasing toys this season is safety. With that in mind, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has some advice about what types of toys present a danger to your child.
If purchasing any type of riding toy for your children, such as a scooter, bicycle, skateboard, or in-line skates, remember to purchase a safety helmet to go along with it. Make sure the helmet is the right size for your child and that it meets the minimum impact standards.
Avoid toys with small parts for children under age 3. These types of toys create choking hazards for toddlers. In addition, if your holiday celebration includes balloons, keep deflated balloons away from small children. A child can choke or suffocate on a deflated balloon and you should get rid of deflated balloons at once.
Once you open the gifts, throw away all plastic wrappings and packaging. Plastic coverings are a suffocation hazard for children as well as family pets. Also, avoid toys that contain magnets, as they are a serious health hazard if swallowed by a child. Once inside a child’s stomach, magnets can cause internal damage and your child might require surgery to remove them.
Have you had any holiday scares with dangerous toys in years past?
Colson Hicks Eidson – Florida injury attorneys
