For Toy Safety, Follow Manufacturer's Instructions
Safe Kids Northeast Florida and Wolfson Children's Hospital Offer Toy Safety Reminders

Jacksonville, Florida, December 7, 2006 -- Parents and caregivers can make sure they're choosing safe toys for their children by paying close attention to warning labels and manufacturer's guidelines.

"More than three billion toys and games are sold in the United States every year, and most of them are very safe. Warning labels and manufacturers' instructions tell you how to use the product safely," says Cynthia Dennis, RN, Safe Kids Northeast Florida coordinator. "If the manufacturer sets a minimum age or other restrictions, there's a reason. Follow the instructions."

Nationwide, approximately 160,000 children per year ages 14 and under are treated in emergency rooms for toy-related injuries; nearly half of these children are under age 5.

"By far, the biggest category of toy-related injuries -- about 40 percent -- involves riding toys, such as scooters, inline skates and skateboards," says Dennis. "If you give a riding toy to a child, remember: the gift isn't complete without a helmet and protective gear."

Riding toys should not be used near vehicle traffic, stairs, swimming pools or bodies of water.

"If you buy toys secondhand or get hand-me-downs, visit www.recalls.gov to make sure the toy hasn't been recalled for safety reasons," says Dennis. "If a new toy comes with a product registration card, mail it in right away so the manufacturer can contact you if the item is ever recalled."

Don't hesitate to report defects or design features that seem dangerous. "If your child has a close call, the next child might not be so lucky," says Dennis. "Report safety concerns about toys to the Consumer Product Safety Commission or call the CPSC at 800-638-2772. Your experience could be part of a pattern that might lead to a recall."

Safe Kids Northeast Florida also recommends these precautions:

Use a small parts tester (available in quantity from the Safe Kids Resource Catalog) or the cardboard tube from a roll of toilet paper to identify choking hazards. Do not let small children play with anything that can fit into one of these cylinders.

Inspect toys to make sure they are in good repair. Do not let young children play with toys that have straps, cords or strings longer than 7 inches, due to the risk of strangulation.

Supervise children playing with any toy that has small parts, moving parts, electrical or battery power, cords, wheels or any other potentially risky component. (Simply being in the same room as your child is not necessarily supervising. Active supervision means keeping the child in sight and in reach and paying undivided attention.)

Teach children to put toys away after playing, to help prevent falls and unsupervised play, and make sure toys intended for younger children are stored separately from those for older children. Toy chests should be equipped or retrofitted with safety hinges that prevent the lid from closing on a child who is leaning over the open chest; if a chest does not have safety hinges, remove the lid.

For more information about toy safety, protective equipment and choking, visit Safe Kids.