Safety is the word when choosing holiday gifts for young children.
Andrew Rutnick, Licensing and Consumer Affairs commissioner, has toy safety tips for shoppers.
Rutnick this week said that "toys are an important part of holiday gift-giving, and DCLA wants to insure that the public is aware of potential hazards." He noted that in 1998, according to the U.S. Consumer Safety Commission, there were 14 toy related deaths, and estimates of more than 120,000 children being treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries from toys.
He urged purchasers to read labels carefully. Labels are required on all toys marketed for children age three to six. They are also required for toys which might pose a choking hazard to children under age three. These labels tell the consumer why a particular toy may not be safe for a child.
The following tips should help in selecting an appropriate toy:
+ Select toys to suit the age of the child. Toys too advanced may pose a safety hazard.
+ For infants who still mouth objects, avoid toys with small moveable parts.
+ Look for sturdy construction, such as tightly secured eyes or noses.
+ Don't buy electric toys with heating elements for children less than eight years.
+ Be a label reader. Look for age recommendations.
+ Check instructions for clarity.
+ Discard plastic wrappings which can cause suffocation.
Rutnick said that common sense and these safety suggestions should insure a safe and happy Christmas for small children, and for the rest of us, as well.
