University of Virginia Health System

Trouble in Toyland

Think safety when choosing holiday toys for children

< December 10, 2002 > Parents looking for the perfect gift for their children this holiday season should think safety first.

Some toys are toxic, others may be a threat to eyes, and some can pose choking or noise hazards.

"Parents shouldn't assume that every toy that is on the shelf is safe or has been tested by the government," says Elizabeth Hitchcock, communications director for the US Public Interest Research Group (PIRG).

PIRG has released its 17th annual toy consumer report, called Trouble in Toyland, which documents potential hazards the group found on store shelves in the past few months.

Hitchcock stresses that PIRG has limited staff available to do these toy checks, so it is impossible to include all potentially dangerous toys in the report. While the report is a starting point, parents have to be vigilant about closely inspecting every toy they consider buying for their children.

Each year, 150,000 to 200,000 American children are treated for toy-related injuries, says the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

About 15 children die each year in the United States while playing with toys. Those deaths can be caused by choking on small objects, falling off riding toys, or being hit by a car or falling into a pool while playing on a riding toy, the CPSC says.

Hitchcock says choking on small toys or small parts is the leading hazard.

Eyes can be especially vulnerable, too. In 2001, nearly 10,000 children were treated in US hospital emergency rooms for eye injuries caused by toys and sporting equipment, says Prevent Blindness America.

BB and pellet guns, toy weapons, slingshots, and sling-propelled toys accounted for 1,917 of those eye injuries.

Many parents mistakenly believe there is little or no danger from a BB or pellet gun because they had one when they were children and never got hurt, says Dr. John B. Jeffers, director of the emergency department at the Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia.

However, his experience in the emergency room makes it clear how dangerous those guns can be. And just telling a child not to point a BB or pellet gun at others will not lessen the danger.

"The majority of the BB gun injuries that I have seen in the emergency room have not been direct hits (to the eye). They've been ricochets -- kids standing behind the shooter and the BB comes back and hits the eye," Jeffers says.

Paintball guns and high-pressure water guns can also inflict eye injuries, he says.

Whether it is guns or toys with pointed edges, many parents do not think about toy safety until one of their children has suffered an eye injury, Jeffers says. That can suddenly turn parents into the most ardent toy safety advocates.

Prevent Blindness America says BB and pellet guns, slingshots, water guns, and any other toys that shoot or release projectiles should be removed from gift lists.

Inspect toys to ensure there are no sharp edges or points that may cause eye damage, Prevent Blindness America says. Toys should be able to withstand impact. Do not buy toys with small parts for young children. That could increase the risk of choking.

Check your children's toys regularly for broken parts. If they cannot be safely repaired, throw them out. Older children sometimes modify toys, making them unsafe. Be vigilant.

Read instructions and labels to determine if a certain toy is appropriate for the child's age and ability. Age labels on toys are there for safety as well as developmental guidelines.

You should also recommend to family and friends gifts that you feel are appropriate for your child, so they do not buy something that may be a potential hazard.

And keep alert for toy recalls. You can often find recall notices at the front of stores. Take recalled toys back to the store where you bought them.

Below you will find some additional holiday toy shopping safety tips to consider:

• If you are buying your child a bicycle, scooter, skateboard, or inline skates, the child needs to have a properly fitted helmet. Helmets can reduce head injuries by up to 85 percent, the CPSC says. Your child's helmet should be fitted so it does not slide backward. After you adjust the helmet chin-straps according to instructions, tape or sew the straps so they do not come loose. Do not forget wrist guards and elbow and knee pads if your child is using inline skates, a skateboard, or a scooter.
  
  
• Do not buy toys that may pose a choking hazard for children 3 years old and younger. That includes larger toys that have parts that detach and could choke a child. Here is a rule of thumb—if a toy fits inside a toilet paper role, it is too small for a toddler. Latex balloons are a major choking hazard for young children.
  
  
• If you are considering a bat and ball for a young child, opt for the soft foam-type ones.
  
  
• Large, stuffed animals are fine as long as you do not put them in the crib, where they can become a potential suffocation hazard.
  
  
• When buying electric toys such as train sets or remote-controlled cars, check for the "UL Approved" label.

Always consult your child's physician for more information.

Online Resources

(Our Organization is not responsible for the content of Internet sites.)

Prevent Blindness America

US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

US Public Interest Research Group (PIRG)

For more information on toy safety, please visit the Safety & Injury Prevention information module on this Web site.

Billions of toys to amuse children of all ages are sold each year in the US. Unfortunately, toys also are associated with thousands of injuries each year, some of which result in death. Children under age 3 are especially at risk for injury from toys. Injuries can range from falling, choking, strangulation, burning, drowning, and even poisoning. However, the leading cause of toy-related death is choking, usually on latex balloons.

Injury often results when a toy is misused or used by children who are too young for that particular toy. An example is a toy with small parts, designed for older children, which can cause choking when those small parts are ingested by a curious toddler.

Knowing what dangers are associated with certain toys and age groups can help you better protect your child from toy injuries. When selecting toys for your child:

• Choose toys that are age-appropriate and meet your child's skill level and interest (read the toy's labeling).
  
  
• Avoid using latex balloons as much as possible and use mylar balloons instead.
  
  
• Make sure toys are used in safe environments, such as keeping a riding toy away from stairs.
  
  
• Be involved in your child's play.
  
  
• Store toys intended for older children separately from toys used by younger children.
  
  
• Use a small parts tester to determine which small toys or parts are a choking hazard to children under age 3. A small parts tester allows for small objects to be inserted - if the object fits, it is a choking hazard.
  
  
• Stay up-to-date on toy recalls through the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Always consult your physician for more information.

In Other News About the Your Family's Safety:

Snowboard Safety

Take precautions with this popular sport

Snowboarding is the fastest growing winter sport in the United States. More than 3.4 million Americans snowboard, and they account for 20 percent of visitors to American ski resorts.

However, like many other fun, popular sports, snowboarding does have certain risks. To minimize those dangers, consider the following safety advice:

• Beginning snowboarders are most at risk of injury, even though they do not try the kind of difficult maneuvers done by advanced boarders. Nearly 25 percent of injuries occur during a snowboarder's first experience, and nearly half of injuries happen in the first season of snowboarding.
  
  
• The upper extremities and ankles are most likely to be injured while snowboarding, compared to the knees in downhill skiing. Wrist injuries account for about 23 percent of snowboarding injuries, ankle injuries account for 16.7 percent, and knee injuries, 16.3 percent. Other snowboard injuries include: head injuries, 9.2 percent; shoulder injuries, 8.3 percent; trunk injuries, 7.8 percent; and elbow injuries, 4.4 percent.
  
  
• Wrist fractures account for about half of all snowboarding fractures. About half of all snowboarding ankle injuries are fractures.
  
  
• Life-threatening snowboarding accidents are rare and most often involve collisions with trees.

Here are some tips on how to prevent snowboarding injuries:

• Make sure you are in good physical shape. A regular fitness program will make it easier for you while you are snowboarding and will help prevent injuries.
  
  
• Use the right equipment, including the proper kind of snowboarding boots. Beginner snowboarders should have soft snowboarding boots and an all-purpose snowboard.
  
  
• Take lessons from a trained instructor in good weather.
  
  
• Wear wrist guards, especially if you are a novice snowboarder. If you do not have wrist guards, keep your hands in a closed fist position. That will prevent you from falling on a hyperextended wrist.
  
  
• Consider using ski poles, especially if you are a beginner who is more likely to fall.
  
  
• Wear a helmet. For many beginner snowboarders, the back of the head is a frequent impact area in falls.
  
  
• Go to a skiing area that allows snowboards. Stay on slopes that have packed snow (avoid icy slopes) and are not crowded.