Shopping for toys? Avoid the top hazards for young kids—toys with small magnets, small balls or other small parts; balloons; scooters and other riding toys. If you get an older kid a scooter, skateboard or inline skates, make sure the kid has a helmet and elbow/knee/wrist pads that fit and that he or she will wear.

Though toys in the U.S. have gotten much safer—with only 30 recalls in 2014 versus 172 in 2008—kids continue to die from choking on small parts and from riding-toy accidents. And nearly 200,000 go to the emergency room each year due to toy-related injuries. Check out these additional toy safety shopping, maintenance and storage tips.

 And get the older kids involved in keeping the younger ones safe. Here’s a poster with toy safety tips for big brothers and sisters. 

If you have questions, contact us.