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Toy Safety Hazards

Children's toys can quickly become safety hazards. Because all toys are not for all children, it is important to keep toys in the hands of those they are designed for. Follow age recommendations set by the the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the organization that helps protect the public from risk and injury caused by products, including toys. Store clean, well-maintained toys out of reach of young children.

Toys With Straps
- Strings and straps on toys pose strangulation and entanglement hazards that can be avoided. From the neck strap on a pair of children's binoculars to the thick shoulder strap on a toy guitar, straps can become twisted around the child's neck. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), only a few pounds of force on the neck's blood vessels can cause strangulation. Be sure any toys with straps have a safety release clasp that opens easily, and store those toys away in a safe place for use under adult supervision.
Small Parts
- Keep toys with small parts away from young children.
  
  Toys with small parts such as marbles, balls and removable parts pose a choking danger. Avoid toys with parts that have a diameter of 1.75 inches or less. Realize that small parts like eyes and wheels can break free from toys and become hazards. Maintain toys by inspecting their parts, keeping them from direct sun that can make them brittle, and discarding toys with broken parts or cracks.
Electric Shock and Burns
- Toys with batteries can cause shocks and burns.
  
  Electric toys with blinking lights and sounds can cause shocks and burns to children too young to use them properly. Always follow the recommended age suggestions on electronics packages and keep children away from the batteries that give toys power. Although there are manufacturing, construction and performance requirements in place to reduce the risk of injury, electronic toys should only be used by children who are age appropriate.
Toy Guns
- Take toy guns seriously.
  
  Toy guns are dangerous enough to cause death if not used properly and stored safely. BB guns, air soft guns and pellet guns, although often thought of as toys, are not intended for children under 16 and require adult supervision, according to the CPSC. Cap guns, brightly colored guns that shoot foam bullets, and other toy guns should never be aimed at another person. The caps used in cap guns should not be stored in pockets. The friction can cause the pyrotechnic material inside to ignite the caps and cause burns.

Childrens Toys