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December is Safe Toys and Gifts Awareness Month

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Safe Toys and Gifts Awareness Month

According to the American Public Health Association, Prevent Blindness America has declared December as Safe Toys and Gifts Awareness Month. Since December is considered to be the gift-giving month, it is important to keep safety in mind when shopping for and receiving gifts. 

The Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that there were an estimated 206,400 toy-related injuries in the United States in 2021. 

  • Males accounted for 58% of the reported injuries
  • 74% of injuries were sustained by children 14 years of age or younger
  • 69% of reported injuries were sustained by children 12 years of age or younger
  • 37% of reported injuries were sustained by children 4 years of age or younger
Product liability

Hazardous Toys

  • Balls (airway obstruction or ingestion)
  • Non-motorized scooters (motor vehicle involvement or fall)
  • Balloons/ balloon strings (asphyxia/suffocation or ingestion)
  • Stuffed toys (positional asphyxia)
  • Toys with toxic chemicals (lead poisoning)

Common Types of Toy-Related Injuries

  • Choking on small parts
  • Strangulation from loose string, fabric, rope
  • Lead poisoning from ingesting lead-based paint on toys
  • Falls from non motorized vehicles
  • Cuts from broken parts of toys
  • Burns from overheated batteries, electrical toys, flammable materials
  • Internal injuries to organs from ingesting toys

Common Causes of Toy-Related Injuries

In spite of the fact that federal organizations maintain high safety standards for manufacturers of children’s products, these standards are often ignored. Toy injuries are often caused by design, manufacturing, or inadequate warning labels. In many cases, toy companies will often fail to conduct safety tests to find potential hazards to the average consumer. Toy companies will also provide inadequate labeling that misidentifies the age range for which the toy is intended and the risks it poses. As a result, thousands of children are injured by unsafe toys released on the market.

How to Prevent Injuries Caused by Unsafe Toys

When shopping for gifts, be mindful of potential hazards that could be caused by toys. When receiving gifts, do the same. Avoid injuries from unsafe toys by following these safety tips:

  • Check the product's age range label. Consider the child's age, size, development, and skill level. If you do not believe it is a good fit for your child just yet, give it some time before allowing your child to play with it.
  • Read the warning labels for any potential hazards.
  • Make sure your child is using the toy the correct way to avoid injuries.
  • Check the toy for broken parts or small pieces that can come off and be used as a choking hazard.
  • Ensure all toys with battery compartments are securely closed. Electrical toys can be a potential burn hazard.
  • Check for product recalls on the website Safe Kids.
  • For more toy and other recall information you can visit: U.S Government recalls

Related Pages

Contact McCoy & McCoy Law Firm

CT Product Liability Lawyers

Be safe this holiday season when buying and receiving toy gifts. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to an unsafe toy, contact our product liability lawyers at McCoy & McCoy today. 

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