MEDICAL SURFARI: SAFE TOYS FOR KIDS' SAKE

Santa and his elves are busily making more and more safe toys for this holiday season. Although all toys are meant to bring joy, entertainment, and enhanced development, some toys have been linked to too many injuries.

Each year, 2.6 billion toys and games are sold in the United States, and two-thirds of them are sold during the holiday season. Appropriate selection and proper use of toys can greatly reduce some of the associated injuries and deaths.

It isn't uncommon for parents to buy toys based on a child's wish list, but for the child's sake, toy safety should be considered before making a final decision. The National SAFE KIDS campaign and the toy manufacturers of America have produced a guide as a public service to offer parents and caregivers tips on selecting and maintaining safe, age-appropriate toys.

The National SAFE KIDS Campaign is the first and only national organization dedicated solely to the prevention of childhood injury. There are more than 200 state and local SAFE KIDS coalitions among the 50 states. The Cape Girardeau Area SAFE KIDS Coalition is part of this national campaign. For information on toy safety and other child-safety issues, you may contact them locally at 651-5815.

Your family physician or pediatrician can also help decide which toys are safe for newborns, toddlers, and teens. Brochures on toy safety, which provide information on age-appropriate toys from birth to age 12, are available by writing Publication Request, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207, or by calling toll-free 1-800-638-2772.

Toy injury prevention tips

-- When selecting toys, keep in mind the child's age, interests, and skill level. Look for quality construction and design, and follow the manufacturer's age and safety recommendations on the labels. A toy that is too advanced or too simple for a child may be misused, which can lead to injury.

-- When choosing toys for children under 4, think BIG, as the toy parts should be larger than the child's mouth to prevent choking injuries or death.

-- A child's play is most valuable when an adult interacts with the child during play, rather than simply providing the toys or supervising the activity.

-- Children should be taught to put toys away safely after playing.

-- Adults should insure that toys intended for younger children are stored separately from those for older children.

-- All toys should be inspected regularly for damage and potential hazards. Damaged toys should be repaired immediately or discarded, out of reach of children.

For the kids' sake, think toy safety during this holiday season when most children's toys are purchased. May you and your family have a safe and heart-warming holiday!

World Wide Web resources

To learn more about safe toys and safe play, consult these reliable sources:

-- Consumer Product Safety Commission: http://www.cpsc.gov/kids/kids.html

Described as the "coolest" page of CPSC's website, it is directed to kids. Challenging kids to "BE SMART, BE COOL, and BE SAFE," it discusses bike helmets, in-line skates, baseball, prevention of skateboard injuries, and safe playing on playgrounds.

-- The American Academy of Pediatrics: http://www.aap.org/advocacy/archives/toytips.htm

This site thoroughly discusses specific age-appropriate toys. It recommends guidelines to use when shopping and reminds the buyer that although reading labels is important, parents should continue to watch for mislabeled toys.

-- Safe Toys Equals Safe Kids: http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/products/safetoys.html

This site is filled with advice for parents and grandparents on how to ensure that their children's toys are safe. It suggests five S's of toy safety: size, shape, surfaces, strings, supervision.

-- 100 Best Children's Products: http://www.drtoy.com/drtoy/index.html

This site reviews a variety of toys and describes those considered "Best 10." The index lists classic toys, best vacation products, educational skills products, and safety tips. Also, it includes excellent materials on communications and helping children discuss feelings.

-- Safety Checklist: http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content/toys_ply.html

Check out this one for valuable points to remember in toy selection. The most important decision is safety. Use age-labeling guidelines. Consider your home environment -- would the toy endanger younger children? Choose electric toys with heating elements only for children over 8, and instruct them to use them only under adult supervision. Use only storage chests that have removable lids or those that will remain open with spring-loaded support.

Dr. Scott Gibbs is a neurosurgeon and editor-in-chief of Mosby's Medical Surfari. You may e-mail questions to him at drgibbs@semissourian.com or write in care of the Southeast Missourian, P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63701.