The Rx

Top Things to Consider When Buying Safe Toys and Gifts

The national Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that in 2011, more than 262,000 children were treated in emergency rooms across the country for toy-related injuries. Because the head and face area are the most commonly injured part of the body, Prevent Blindness America has declared December Safe Toys and Gifts Month to raise awareness of the possible dangers that these can have.

What do you need to remember?

Prevent Blindness America suggests that before purchasing a toy:

·       Read all warnings and instructions on the box.

·       Ask yourself or the parent if the toy is right for the child’s ability and age.

·       Avoid purchasing toys with sharp or rigid points, spikes, rods, or dangerous

            edges.

·       Check the lenses and frames of children's sunglasses; many can break and

            cause injuries.

·       Buy toys that will withstand impact and not break into dangerous shards.

·       Look for the letters "ASTM." This designation means the product meets the

            national safety standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials

            (ASTM).

·       Avoid toys that shoot or include parts that fly off.

·       Gifts of sports equipment should always be accompanied by protective gear

            (such as a basketball along with eye goggles or a face guard with a new batting

            helmet for baseball or softball).

·       Don’t give toys with small parts to young children. Young kids tend to put things

            in their mouths, increasing the risk of choking. If the part of a toy can fit in a toilet

            paper roll, the toy is not appropriate for children under the age of 3.

·       Do not purchase toys with long strings or cords, especially for infants and very

            young children as this can become wrapped around a child’s neck.

·       Always dispose of uninflated or broken balloons immediately. According to the

            CPSC, more children have suffocated from them than any other type of toy.

For more information on safe toys and gifts for children, including the PBA Safe Toys

Check List, please go to preventblindness.org/safe-toy-checklist, or call Prevent Blindness

America at 800-331-2020.