Keeping Toys safe for the Holidays
One major part of the holiday season is gift giving. While giving gifts can bring smiles to the faces of loved ones, it can also present unexpected dangers. According to studies, every three minutes a child in the U.S. ends up in the emergency room due to toy related injuries. Injuries can occur in many different ways, from foot-powered scooters to toys with unsafe lead amounts and choking hazards. During the past decade, toy related injures increased by 40% and approximately 3.3 million children suffered injuries during that time.
Ride-on-toys, such as scooters, wagons, and tricycles contribute to the increase in toy related accidents according to the study. Children injured by ride-on-toys were three times as likely to suffer a broken bone or dislocation injury as other toy accidents. Another common injury were choking risks for children under the age of three.
In an effort to make sure holiday gift giving results in the excitement as intended, here are some shopping tips provided by the Nationwide Children’s Hospital:
- Buy a helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads for certain ride-on-toys
- Make sure toys have battery compartments that can only be opened with a screwdriver
- Keep magnets away from children
- Make sure the toy is age appropriate to avoid choking hazards
If you or a loved one suffered an injury due to a defective toy or product, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost wages. For more information, fill out a free case evaluation to see if our product liability lawyers may be able to help you or call 843-720-3737