Which toys are safe for my child? Which toys are suitable for which age? Parents and relatives ask themselves these questions year following year. Some toys actually pose serious dangers. For example, batteries contained therein can be life-threatening if swallowed.
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The association “Big protect little ones” (Austrian Committee for Accident Prevention and Health Promotion in Children and Adolescents) explains on his homepagehow to identify child-safe toys.
Tips to prevent toys from becoming dangerous
- Avoid toys with button batteries: There is a danger to life if batteries are swallowed! In the digestive tract, the surrounding tissue can be damaged by the discharge. The battery can leak in the acidic gastric juice, resulting in the release of mercury and other extremely alkaline components. Aside from being corrosive, some button batteries contain more than 5 grams of mercury oxide. That’s more than the estimated lethal dose for adults.
- Choose Age-Appropriate Toys: For children under 3 years old, do not buy a toy smaller than a ping pong ball. “With small toys or parts of them, there is a risk of choking, getting stuck in the throat or inhaling,” warns Univ.-Prof. Dr. Holger Till, President of “Big Protect Little Ones” and board member of the Graz University Clinic for Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery. Younger children are particularly at risk. They often stick small parts, including those that come off of larger toys, into their noses and ears or swallow them.
- Make sure that the toy does not have any sharp corners or edges or points of crushing or shearing. Cuts and flesh wounds are common in children.
- Read the instructions for use and pay particular attention to warnings.
- Look for test seals such as “GS”, “Toxproof”, “TÜV” or “Spielgut”.
- Unpleasant pungent or acrid odors indicate dangerous ingredients.Also check soft toys critically for toxic plasticizers.
- Pay attention to non-flammable materials.
- There is a risk of fire with batteries: It is therefore essential to dispose of it properly and pay attention to a fireproof surface and surrounding area when charging. Electric toys that run on 220 volts are extremely dangerous. The maximum operating voltage should be 24 volts.
- To test the stability of tricycles etcsubject them to a “shake test”.
- Visually inspect the toy regularly: Is the battery compartment securely closed? Are small parts starting to come off?
Author
Andrea Endt
Online editor
Andrea Endt
