Toy Safety for the Holidays

Safety steps to keep kids safe this holiday season:

• Balloons: 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 could be a choking hazard:
  Avoid these for children younger than age 3.
• 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.
• Magnets: Avoid building or play sets with small magnets for kids under age 6. If magnets or pieces with magnets are swallowed, serious injuries and/or death can occur.

Once 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. Some chargers lack any mechanism to prevent overcharging.