MORE often than not, people make knee-jerk purchases based on the attractiveness, color, packaging and price, without paying attention to safety details. This practice has to stop. It is reckless.
This holiday season, before making toy purchases for kids, always remember and apply the motto “safety first”. Children’s health and safety are priorities. Parents and other toy givers can avoid offering toys that could put children’s health in danger instead of providing them with playthings to support their mental, physical, and social development.
Some common toy hazards include loose or small parts that may be ingested and bring about breathing difficulties or choking; pointed or sharp edges that may injure the eyes or cause cuts and grazes; cords or string longer than 12 inches that may pose strangulation risk; and hazardous chemicals such as lead in paint and phthalates in PVC plastic that may result in health and developmental problems.
Young children are more vulnerable to lead exposure because they often put their hands or other objects that may contain lead paint or dust in their mouths. Lead interferes with normal brain development and the damage caused by chronic, low-level exposure to lead is sadly permanent. The brains and central nervous systems of young children are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead exposure. Among the damaging effects of childhood lead exposure include decreased intelligence as measured by IQ tests, reduced school performance and behavioral problems, including aggression and violence. According to the World Health Organization, there is no known level of lead exposure that is considered safe.
Here’s an eight-point quick “Santa’s Guide for Safe Toys”: 1. age-appropriate; 2. well-made; 3. no small parts; 4. string shorter than 12 inches; 5. injury-free; 6. not coated with lead paint; 7. non-polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic; and 8. labeled and registered.
These basic tips should help consumers keep kids out of harm’s way and we hope that consumers would take note of them.
