Avoiding Trauma by Toys, tips for holiday toy-buying

Every parent looks forward to seeing their child’s face light up at the sight of a new toy during the holidays. But as we begin to shop for our little ones, emergency room physicians say safety should be at the top of our shopping list.

To help parents make smart choices, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recently released a report offering guidance about toys with potentially hazardous features.

In 2015, more than 250,000 children were treated in emergency departments across the U.S. for toy-related injuries. Boys encountered more than half of those injuries. 

Eric Higginbotham, MD, leads the emergency department at Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, part of Ascension, the nation’s largest nonprofit health system and the world’s largest Catholic health system.

He says when accidents do happen, whether your child swallowed a battery or suffered a hard fall, it’s important to seek medical care immediately. Go to a Pediatric Level I Trauma Center, equipped with pediatric specialists who are trained to work together and act quickly.

Dell Children’s is the only Pediatric Level I Trauma Center in Central Texas, offering the highest level of trauma care for kids.

“I’m the last person you want to see on Christmas morning,” Higginbotham said. “But unfortunately year after year, toy-related injuries are still a thing, especially around the holidays.”

According to the report:

• Non-motorized scooters were listed as the most dangerous toy, blamed for about 45 percent of toy-related deaths.
• Bumps, bruises and cuts were the most common injuries.
• Heads and faces were the body parts most affected by these injuries.

Higginbotham points out parents should not only pay attention when they’re shopping, but they should also take a close look at toys their children receive as gifts from friends and relatives.

“My own kids never see up to half the toys they’re gifted by others,” he said. “If I so much as question the toy’s safety, I store it until they’re older or I just toss it.”

Other toy features to watch out for:

• Balloons and balloon strings (choking, strangulation)
• Stuffed toys, dolls, doll accessories, toy figurines (suffocating)
• Water guns (drowning)
• Tricycles (accidents involving motor-vehicles)

Shopping? Consider these tips:

• Study the label: It’s important to know how to properly use the toy. Read warning labels and instruction manuals to learn about proper play, and then give your child pointers on safe use.
• Shop for age-appropriate toys:  Check the packaging for age limitations.
• Go big: To prevent choking, make sure the toys are too large to fit inside your child’s mouth.
• Buy safety gear: For bikes, skateboards and similar toys, make sure your child is properly fitted with a helmet and pads.
• Check the sound levels: Avoid any toys that are too loud to prevent hearing damage.
• Beware of battery operated toys: Make sure your little one can’t remove the battery. “Button-style” batteries can cause potentially fatal internal burning when swallowed.
• Look for non-toxic toys: Make sure toys don’t contain toxic materials that could be poisonous.
• No matter what, supervise your child: Any toy can be dangerous without parental supervision.

Learn more about pediatric emergency and trauma care at Dell Children’s.

-XXX-

About Ascension

Ascension is a faith-based health care organization dedicated to transformation through innovation across the continuum of care. As the largest nonprofit health system in the U.S. and the world’s largest Catholic health system, Ascension is committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. In FY2016, Ascension provided more than $1.8 billion in care of persons living in poverty and other community benefit programs. Approximately 160,000 associates and 36,000 aligned providers serve in 2,500 sites of care – including 141 hospitals and more than 30 senior living facilities – in 24 states and the District of Columbia as part of Ascension’s Healthcare Division. Through its Solutions Division, Ascension subsidiaries provide a variety of services and solutions including physician practice management, venture capital investing, investment management, biomedical engineering, clinical care management, information services, risk management, and contracting through Ascension’s own group purchasing organization.

About Seton Healthcare Family

Ascension’s Texas ministry comprises Seton Healthcare Family and Providence Healthcare Network. The Daughters of Charity founded Austin-based Seton in 1902 and Waco-based Providence in 1905 as a sign of God’s unconditional love for all, and today strive to expand access to high-quality, low-cost, person-centered care and services. Seton operates more than 100 clinical locations, including four teaching hospitals that serve as training sites for Dell Medical School at The University of Texas. Seton conducts research in such areas as the prevention and treatment of stroke, traumatic injury, epilepsy and chronic condition management. Providence operates a major hospital; a psychiatric and substance abuse resource center; and a premiere community for independent and assisted living, long-term and sub-acute care. Both systems have strong cardiovascular and neuroscience programs. Seton, which operates Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, also is the regional leader in pediatric care. Together in 2015, Seton and Providence provided more than $450 million in charitable care. For more information, visit www.seton.net and www.providence.net.