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As parents the job of keeping your children safe is never ending. You have to be diligent in monitoring what they eat, keep_your_kids_safewho they meet and where they go. Contrary to popular believe parenting today is different than when we were growing up. The world is not the same safe place where kids could hit the ground running in the morning and return home in time for supper. While parents today face different challenges in protecting their children, there is also a wealth of information available to help parents make smart decisions when it comes to the safety of their children. Ideally the world of play would remain safe for our kids but alas that is just one more area parents have to be watchful to prevent injury and sadly in some cases even death. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports the following toys which pose higher risks of injury or death.

Top Toy Hazards

  • Scooters and Ridings Toys- The chance of serious injury increases for children not wearing helmets and other safety gear.
  • Toys with Small Parts- Most parents are aware of the danger of small parts on toys that can pose a choking hazard for smaller children. It is important to buy age appropriate toys and to make sure older children keep their toys out of reach from their younger siblings.
  • Balloons- Do not let children under 8 play with or have access to un-inflated or broken balloons as they pose a choking hazard if swallowed.
  • Magnets- Many popular toy manufacturers use small magnets as components of toy sets. Magnets pose a serious danger if swallowed as they can stick to each other across a bowel wall. This can lead to infection, surgery or even death. Note: Written warnings are not mandatory on toys containing magnets.
  • Battery chargers and adapters- As it becomes harder and harder to find toys that don’t require batteries, the need for battery chargers and adapters has grown. When unsupervised by an adult children can be exposed to the risk of thermal burns.

While many people may scoff at the idea that these toys (many of which children have been playing with for years) pose a danger, at some point a child did suffer injury or possibly loss of life to bring the hazard to our attention. Personally, I feel one of the most overlooked hazards to children are the parents themselves. Many children find themselves in the emergency room or worse due to a lack of common sense or supervision on the parents part. As the parent of a small child I understand how quickly things can happen, it is important to not only use caution when purchasing toys for you children but to also have the foresight to see potential danger and take steps to prevent accidents from happening.



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