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Tips for toy safety this Christmas
With the festive season upon us, many children have already started their letters to Father Christmas. But, in the middle of all the unwrapping and excitement, give a thought to toy safety. Here are some top tips from our public health (school) nurses:
When you’re buying toys, make sure you go to recognised outlets as toy sales are governed by strict regulations. At this time of year, lots of novelty Christmas decorations are on sale that look like toys, but which are not covered by the same rules. Watch out for small parts and sharp edges.
Supervise children closely when they’re playing – while a toy may be age appropriate for one child, younger siblings could end up choking on small parts or hurting themselves.
Many toys need the small, round ‘button’ batteries to work. These can be extremely dangerous if swallowed or inserted into an ear. If you think a child has swallowed a button battery, follow this advice from the Child Accident PreventionTrust:
- Go straight to the Accident and Emergency department at your local hospital or dial 999 for an ambulance
- Tell the doctor there that you think your child has swallowed a button battery
- If you have the battery packaging or the product powered by the battery, take it with you. This will help the doctor identify the type of battery and will make treatment easier
- Don’t let your child eat or drink anything
- Don’t make them sick
- Trust your instincts and act fast – do not wait to see if any symptoms develop
For more tips and advice, visit:
www.rospa.com/home-safety/advice/product/toy-safety/
www.capt.org.uk/talking-about-toys-and-accidents
Parents and carers can contact a public health nurse via our secure and confidential text messaging service, ChatHealth. The service operates Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm and all texts will receive a response within 24 hours.
- Leicester City: text 07520 615381
- Leicestershire & Rutland: text 07520 615382