Some toys may be a potential hazard for the holidays
Toy Safety
MARYLAND – With the holidays fast approaching, there are two things for many locals they look forward to. That’s time with family and many new toys. But toys, like many things, can lead to injuries, which have increased for the past three years.
Injuries
Many people love to buy children gifts during the holiday season, and though gifts like Scooters can be fun, if not used properly, they could potentially be dangerous. Almost 185,000 toy injuries were reported last year, an 8.3% increase compared to 2020.
LendingTree’s Divya Sangameshwar, says 15% came from using unpowered Scooters. “In 2020, toy injuries fell significantly, because we were all at home with lockdown. We were paying closer attention to our children, so they were less likely to do something dumb and hurt themselves… It’s one of those toys where parents and caregivers, and grandparents wrongly assume it’s safe. You can just hop on one of these and just start going immediately… You also have the risk of fractures. Which is a more serious kind of injury.”
Interaction
Olga Kozhevenikova, the owner of World of Toys in Berlin, says she only buys the best for her customers, but some toys can be dangerous. “We sell some magnets, individual ones. They’re good fidget toys. Kids see the visuals, but they are not always responsible of keeping them all together, and they can be swallowed by a pet or a younger child.”
She says to truly ensure your child is safe, play with them. “Kids are looking for interaction, if you pull any toy, any game, they’ll play with you. If you take a kickball with them outside, they’ll go with you. So, a lot of parents these days want to sit on their phone.”
Information
And when purchasing presents, Sangameshwar says one has to be diligent. “There’s a reason why a lot of toys have ages on them. That comes from the rigorous safety testing that goes into a lot of toy manufacturing. So, stick to those and I think you’ll be good.”
LendingTree reports despite the increase in toy injuries the past three years, toys overall are getting safer. For a list of the most dangerous toys check out this link for more information. World of Toys say has something for all ages, and you can visit them at 115 North Main Street in Berlin.
