Practice toy safety to keep the holidays merry

As we approach the busy shopping season, Baptist Health Care is offering the following safety tips to shoppers who will be buying toys for children. Millions of toys are out there, and hundreds of new ones hit the stores each year.

Toys are supposed to be fun and are an important part of any child's development, but every year many children are treated in hospital emergency departments for toy-related injuries. Choking is a particular risk for children ages 3 or younger, because they tend to put objects in their mouths.

"It is important to be sure that all toys purchased for Christmas gifts are in the proper age range for the child who will receive the gift," said Richard Russo, M.D., urgent care physician at Baptist Medical Park-Nine Mile. "Every year thousands of injuries put a damper on the holidays because a child gets their hand on an inappropriate item or not accompanied by supervision or proper safety equipment."

Once you've bought safe toys, be sure that children know how to use them. The best way to teach children is by playing with them and teaching them how to have fun and be safe. The holiday season is a wonderful time to be shared with friends and family and to focus on children. With a little forethought and selective purchasing as to toys, everyone can have a safe and happy holiday.

If a minor injury does occur, Dr. Russo recommends you seek immediate help from an urgent care center that sees patients without an appointment such as Baptist Urgent Care on the corner of Nine Mile Road and University Parkway in Pensacola. To learn more, call 850.434.4080 or visit BaptistMedicalGroup.org for hours and directions. Please note that if the injury appears life threatening, you should immediately call 9-1-1.

Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind when toy-shopping:

• Read the warnings and instruction on the box.
• Buy toys that will withstand heavy play.
• Look for the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) approval.
• Read labels to see if toys made of fabric are flame resistant or flame retardant.
• Determine what art and crafts materials are toxic and nontoxic.