The holiday season is here -- and soon children everywhere will be unwrapping new toys of all shapes and sizes. While you may have your toy shopping done for this year, one health care specialist says you should add toy safety to the list as well.
Toys, toys, and more toys. This holiday season, there are more choices for parents than ever before. It's a $23-billion-a- year industry. But not all toys are safe for all children. many contain small parts that could be choking hazards. others, if used improperly, can be dangerous -- even deadly. University of Iowa Health Care experts say parents should use some common sense once the toys are unwrapped.
"First and foremost, provide proper supervision of your children when they're playing with these toys," says John Lundell, UI Injury Prevention specialist. "That's a good rule of thumb in any case -- to be there to supervise them and to help them if they do get into trouble."
Toy-related injuries send 150,000 children to the emergency room each year. of those injuries, 90 percent happen to children under the age of four. That's why it's important to follow safety guidelines, which are labeled on each toy.
"The other good thing to remember is to provide age-appropriate toys for your children, especially if you have children of all ages in your home. make sure those older kids keep their toys away from the hands of the youngsters nearby," says Lundell.
Following some simple advice will make this holiday season that much happier for children.
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For
more information:
View the TV Report *** Quicktime Required
www.safekids.org
Call the University of Iowa's Injury Prevention Research Center at: 319-335-4458
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