Toy safety tips this holiday season

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio Department of Public Safety's Division of Emergency Medical Services reminds Ohioans that while toys are safer this Christmas, thanks to stronger federal safeguards, toy-related injuries per year are still too high.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were 34 toy recalls in 2011, down from 46 toy recalls last year. In 2011, toy recalls related to lead declined to four, down from 19 in 2008.

Toy-related deaths to children younger than 15 increased to 17 fatalities reported in 2010, up from 15 reported in 2009. Nearly half of these toy-related fatalities were attributed to choking on balloons, small balls, and rubber balls

"EMS personnel are prepared to respond to emergencies during the holiday. However, most people can prevent toy-related injuries by taking precautions," said Ohio EMS Executive Director Jeffrey Leaming. "It's important to pay close attention to the types of toys parents and caregivers are purchasing for children this holiday."

CPSC released a report in November stating that approximately 181,500 children younger than 15 years of age were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments due to toy-related injuries in 2010. Non-motorized scooters continued to be the category of toys associated with the most injuries.

The Division of EMS offers the following toy-safety tips:

• Children can choke or suffocate on deflated or broken balloons. Keep deflated balloons away from children younger than 8 years old. Discard broken balloons at once.
• Small balls and other toys with small parts - For children younger than age 3, avoid toys with small parts, which can cause choking.
• Scooters and other riding toys - Riding toys, skateboards, and in-line skates go fast, and falls could be deadly. Helmets and safety gear should be worn properly at all times, and they should be sized to fit.
• For children under age 6, avoid building or play sets with small magnets. If magnets or pieces with magnets are swallowed, serious injuries and/or death can occur.

Once the gifts are open:

• Immediately discard plastic wrappings or other packaging on toys before they become dangerous play things.
• Keep toys appropriate for older children away from younger siblings.
• Charging batteries should be supervised by adults. Chargers and adapters can pose thermal burn hazards to young children. Pay attention to instructions and warnings on battery chargers.
• Don't remove home smoke detector batteries to power any toys.