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Department of Pediatrics at Saint Barnabas Medical Center Offers Information on Toy Safety Livingston, N.J. --The holidays are fast approaching and parents and relatives are perusing store shelves and catalogs for the perfect toys for children of a variety of ages. While few things bring a smile to a child’s face like a new toy, thousands of children suffer toy-related injuries each year. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reports that while most toy-related injuries are minor cuts, scrapes and bruises, children can sometimes be seriously injured or even killed by dangerous toys or misuse of toys. According to the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention, an estimated 140,700 children were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms last year after toy-related incidents. Approximately 45 percent of toy-related injuries are lacerations. Injuries also include abrasions or contusions (21 percent), ingestion or lodging of a foreign body (12 percent), fractures or dislocations (7 percent), sprains or strains (5 percent) and miscellaneous injuries (10 percent). Approximately two thirds of all injuries occur above the neck and involve the face. “It is tragic for any child to be injured by a toy that was supposed to be a source of fun and enjoyment,” says Susan Margolin, M.D., Chief of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. “Parents and other well meaning consumers should make their toy purchases with safety in mind, with an emphasis on buying age-appropriate items. Read labels that advise if a toy is not safe for a child under a certain age.” The Department of Pediatrics at Saint Barnabas Medical Center and the AAP offer some insight into the most common causes of injuries from toys: · Abuse and misuse of toys. Throwing toys, jumping on them or taking them apart can be dangerous. When a toy breaks, sharp or pointed edges may be exposed that can cause a serious injury. Something as innocent as a doll or teddy bear may quickly become a hazard when a child pulls off an eye, removes a button or exposes a sharp edge. · Small, loose, or broken toys and parts. A small toy or part can easily become lodged in a child's ear, nose or throat. Children can be seriously injured or killed from inhaling, swallowing or choking on objects such as marbles, small balls, toy parts or balloons. Small toys and parts intended for older children also are involved in choking deaths among toddlers. Toys should be checked periodically for breakage, and damaged toys should be thrown away. · Loose string, rope, ribbons or cord. These items can easily become tangled around a child's neck and strangle him. Dangling objects such as crib mobiles can be deadly if your child becomes entangled in them. Loose or long pieces of clothing, such as hood cords, can also strangle a child when the cords get tangled or caught on playground equipment. Remove hanging toys in the crib when the child can pull him or herself up. · Toy guns. Eye injuries often result from toys that shoot plastic objects or other flying pieces. These objects should have suction cups or other soft material at the tip. Arrows, darts or pellets can also be choking hazards. Very loud snapping or machine-gun noises can damage hearing. "Caps" are a hazard when used indoors or closer than 12 inches from a child's ear. It has been shown that toy guns can cause serious or fatal injuries to children. This is especially true for pellet and BB guns. Although these are often thought of as toys, they can be high-powered, lethal devices. Parents should also be aware that studies in recent years have raised questions about the effect playing with toy firearms has on a child's developing personality. Playing with toy weapons and firearms may cause more aggressive, violent behavior in some children. Playing with toy firearms also may make it easier for a child to mistake a real firearm for a toy. · Riding toys. Injuries are caused not only when children fall off riding toys, but also when they ride them in the street when traffic is present or into swimming pools. · Electric plug-in toys. Even if the label on a toy says it is UL-approved, burns and shocks can still result from frayed cords, misuse or prolonged use of the toy. · Chemistry sets and hobby kits. These kits can cause fires, explosions or poisoning. They may contain chemicals that are often poisonous if swallowed, and they can catch fire or explode, causing serious burns and eye injuries. · Toy chests and other storage containers. Toy chests can pinch, bruise or break tiny fingers and hands if a lid closes suddenly. Death can even occur when a heavy lid without a safety support hinge traps and strangles a small child. Your child also can suffocate if trapped inside a toy chest. Open containers without lids are safest for toy storage. · Although children may like to play by themselves, injuries often occur when there is no proper supervision. Young children are more interested in having fun than in safety. As a result, improper play could lead to a serious toy-related injury. Proper supervision and teaching safe play are very important. Always supervise your child. · More children have suffocated on uninflated balloons and pieces of broken balloons than on any other type of toy. · When looking for stocking stuffers, remember that candy was associated with 19 percent of all choking-related emergency department visits by children ages 14 years or younger in 2001. Of that group, 65 percent of the emergencies were related to hard candy. Playtime should be fun...and safe Playing with toys is an important part of your child's development and growth. Choosing toys carefully will assure that playtime is educational, fun and, most importantly, safe. Your child's pediatrician can help you decide which toys are safe and appropriate for your infant, toddler or young child. The Department of Pediatrics at Saint Barnabas provides both general and sub-specialty services to infants, children and adolescents in an inpatient and ambulatory setting. The attending staff includes over 195 pediatric practitioners. For a referral to a Saint Barnabas Medical Center pediatrician, please call 1-888-SBMC-DOC. [ top ] |
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