By Rene Hopkins
Safe Kids East Central
MCG Children’s Medical Center 

This holiday season parents have even more to consider when deciding what toys to buy. After this year’s recall of more than 20 million Chinese-made products including toys that contain lead paint, parents will want to know where they can get information on what toys are safe this year. A good place to start is with the Safe Kids USA website, www.usa.safekids.org.  

Parents should immediately take away toys that contain lead paint. Although there have been no reports of injury, this doesn’t necessarily mean your child hasn’t been injured. Even if the amounts of lead in one product are minimal, the cumulative exposure is the problem. Over time, exposure can be a serious problem because children absorb up to 75 percent of the lead they are exposed to compared to the 11 percent absorption rate of adults. Even at low levels, lead can impair cognitive function and cause an up to three point decrease in I.Q.

The MCG Children’s Medical Center also advises parents to check their child’s toy box before the holidays, and throw away any broken or damaged toys. When choosing a toy, here are some safety tips to keep in mind:

• Consider the child’s age, interests and skill levels. Look for    quality design and construction, and follow age and safety recommendations on labels. Children under 8 years of age should not be given electrical toys as they are potential burn hazards.
• Consider purchasing a small parts tester to determine whether small toys may present a choking hazard to children under age 3. Small parts testers can be purchased at toy or baby specialty stores. 
• Avoid toys with sharp points or edges, toys that produce loud noises and projectiles (such as darts).
• Toys with strings, straps or cords longer than 7 inches can unintentionally strangle children and should be avoided.
• Toy cap guns should not be given to children younger than 8 years as they can be ignited by the slightest friction and cause serious burns. 

It’s important to teach your child about safety during this holiday season. Here are a few ideas to talk to your child about:

• Use their toys in a safe environment. For example, riding toys should not be used near stairs, traffic or swimming pools.
• Put toys away safely after playing. Safe storage prevents falls and other injuries. Toys for older children can be dangerous in the hands of a younger child and should be stored separately.
• Use gifts of bicycles, inline skates, scooters and skateboards as opportunities to teach your child about safe riding. Make the appropriate safety gear (helmets, retro reflective clothing or stickers, horns and bells, elbow pads, wrist guards and knee pads) part of your gift. And remember, motorized scooters need a proper helmet, one that is usually bigger than a bike helmet. 

MCG Health System is composed of three organizations - MCG Health, Inc. and the clinical services offered by the faculty of the Medical College of Georgia and the members of the MCG Physicians Practice Group. MCG Health, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation operating the MCG Medical Center, MCG Children’s Medical Center, the MCG Sports Medicine Center, MCG Ambulatory Care Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center and related clinical facilities and services. MCG Health, Inc. was formed to support the research and education mission of the Medical College of Georgia, and to build the economic growth of the CSRA, the state of Georgia and the Southeast by providing an environment for delivering the highest level of primary and specialty health care. For more information, please visit www.MCGHealth.org.