Toy Safety Hints from COHI Member Organization
Columbus Children's Hospital

This Christmas season over one million American stores will shelve 150,000 different kinds of toys. Consumer demand and capitalistic innovation add 5,000 new kinds of toys to the shelves each year.

As a result, millions of toys take residence in American homes annually. The lucky, young recipients of these toys often exhibit bright eyes and wide grins. However, all too often, these same young recipients display severe bruises, burns, and lacerations.

Surprisingly, America's children make 190,000 toy-related hospital emergency room visits annually. Despite the many efforts of consumer groups, toy manufacturers, safety inspectors, and parents, many of the toys that end up in our children's hands are potentially dangerous.

Falls and choking cause the most toy-related injury. However, many serious injuries also result from placing tiny toys-or small parts of toys- in tiny noses or ears, from explosions of gas-powered toys or flammable products, and from the sharp edges or points of toys.

Because the assumed safety of many toys is deceiving, ensuring the safety of your children's toys requires more than just common sense. The following tips for toy safety can arm you, as a consumer and parent, with the knowledge you need to shop wisely and safely:

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