Holiday Toy Safety
December 13, 2005

As your child’s holiday gift list continues to grow, it is important to select toys that are safe and appropriate. REMSA would like to share the following tips that will help consumers choose appropriate toys this holiday season and all year round:

• Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills, and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards to younger children.
• For infants, toddlers, and all children who still mouth objects, avoid toys with small parts, which could pose a fatal choking hazard.
• Look for sturdy construction, such as tightly secured eyes, noses, and other potential small parts.
• For all children under age 8, avoid toys that have sharp edges and points.
• Do not purchase electric toys with heating elements for children under age 8.
• Be a label reader. Look for labels that give age recommendations and use that information as a guide.
• Check instructions for clarity. They should be clear to you, and when appropriate, to the child.
• Immediately discard plastic wrappings on toys, which can cause suffocation, before they become deadly playthings.

Other ways to protect your family:

• When selecting toys, consider the child’s age, interests and skill level. Look for quality design and construction, and follow age and safety recommendations on labels.
• Inspect toys regularly for damage and potential hazards such as sharp edges. Make any necessary repairs immediately, or discard damaged toys out of children’s reach.
• Consider purchasing a small parts tester to determine whether small toys may present a choking hazard to children under age 3. Small parts testers can be purchased at toy or baby specialty stores.
• Toys are frequently recalled for safety reasons. Check our Web site for updates and information on recent toy recalls.

Eliminate potential hazards:

• Use mylar balloons instead of latex to eliminate the risk of choking. If you must use latex balloons, store them out of children’s reach, do not allow children to inflate them, and deflate and discard balloons and balloon pieces after use.
• Avoid toys with sharp points or edges, toys that produce loud noises, and projectiles (such as darts).
• Toys with strings, straps or cords longer than 7 inches can unintentionally strangle children and should be avoided.
• Electrical toys are a potential burn hazard. Avoid toys with a heating element - batteries, electrical plugs -- for children under age 8.
• Toy cap guns use caps that can be ignited by the slightest friction and cause serious burns.

Teach your child safety:

• Ensure that toys are used in a safe environment. Riding toys should not be used near stairs, traffic or swimming pools.
• Teach children to put toys away safely after playing. Safe storage prevents falls and other injuries. Toys for older children can be dangerous in the hands of a young child and should be stored separately.
• Use gifts of bicycles, inline skates, scooters and skateboards as opportunities to teach your children about safe riding. Make the appropriate safety gear (helmets, retroreflective clothing or stickers, horns and bells, elbow pads, wrist guards and knee pads) part of your gift.

To set up a media interview with a REMSA representative, please call Scott Walquist at 775.686.2116.

REMSA is a private, not-for-profit emergency medical services system serving northern Nevada. REMSA’s state-of-the-art 9-1-1 dispatch communications center is fully accredited, as are all emergency medical transport services of the company. REMSA provides quality patient care with no taxpayer support or other subsidies.

450 Edison Way Reno, Nevada 89502 (775)858-5700 Fax (775)858-5720