DON'T TOY WITH SAFETY
UL, NFPA urge consumers to "play it safe" with toys this holiday season
For most adults, the holidays symbolize festive parties, delicious food and spending time with loved ones. For children, the entire season has another meaning -- toys. Whether it's the latest high-tech video game or something as simple and timeless as a stuffed animal, nothing puts a smile on a child's face faster than a freshly unwrapped plaything.
In addition to stressing the importance of holiday decorating and fire safety through its Operation Decoration campaign, Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL), in cooperation with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), is working for a safer world by reminding children and adults that toys can pose certain safety risks.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), more than 191,000 children were treated in hospital emergency rooms for toy-related injuries in 2000 alone, including 70,000 toy-related injuries to children under the age of five. To play it safe this holiday season, and all year long, the safety professionals at UL and the NFPA offer the following tips and precautions for toy safety:
- When shopping for toys, especially electrical toys, look for markings that indicate the product has been tested for safety by an independent, third-party product safety and certification organization, such as UL. If you spot a UL Mark on a toy, it means that samples of that toy have been tested (dropped, pulled, tugged at, and generally torn apart) by UL engineering staff and found to comply with appropriate safety requirements.
- Pay close attention to the recommended age designation marked on the toy or its packaging. Always make sure the child's age matches or exceeds the manufacturer's recommended age specification.
- Before children play with a new toy, read the manufacturer's warning markings, and, if applicable, the use and care booklet. Make sure you and your children understand the proper way to play with the toy.
- Immediately discard plastic packaging and gift-wrapping -- these materials can pose a suffocation hazard.
- Initially and periodically inspect toys for cracks, breaks, ripped seams, etc. Parts from damaged toys can break off and become a choking hazard for the child or for younger siblings. Sharp edges can cause dangerous cuts or other abrasions.
- If several children are present at your holiday gathering, make sure that the younger ones are not allowed to play with age-inappropriate toys that siblings or cousins might have received as gifts.
- If a toy requires assembly, make sure a responsible adult assembles the product by completely following the manufacturer's instructions.
- Keep deflated and broken balloons away from small children. Infants and toddlers can easily get them caught in their throats and suffocate.
- Electric toys can become a shock hazard if they're misused. Remember, water and electricity never mix. Never allow your children to use electric toys near water unless they are specifically designed to be used in the water (such as remote controlled toy boats.)
- Be alert. Watch television newscasts and scan newspapers and consumer magazines for information on toy or other household product recalls. You can also visit the CPSC Web site at www.cpsc.gov to learn about their product recalls.
- Whenever possible, complete and return product warranty and registration forms to the manufacturer. If a product is recalled, the manufacturer can use these forms to contact you directly.
- In the event of an emergency, make sure you have telephone numbers for the appropriate law enforcement agency, fire department and poison control center posted near every phone in your home.
Remember that the holiday season is a time for sharing. By sharing Operation Decoration's safety messages with your family, you and your family can enjoy a safer and happier holiday season.
For more safety information, visit UL's Web site at www.ul.com/consumers or the NFPA's Web site at www.nfpa.org.
UL is an independent, not-for-profit product testing and certification organization that has evaluated products, materials and systems for more than a century and continues to work for a safer world. More than 17 billion UL Marks appear on new products each year.
The National Fire Protection Association has been a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, and life safety to the public since 1896. The mission of the international nonprofit organization is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by developing and advocating scientifically based consensus codes and standards, research, training and education. NFPA headquarters is in Quincy, MA, USA.
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