Be aware of toy safety guidelines for children

EDMONTON — Alberta Health Services is promoting toy safety for babies and young children to mark Safe Kids Week, an annual safety initiative led by Parachute, which started Monday.

When buying toys:

• Choose age-appropriate toys and always check labels for safety warnings.
• Test if a toy is a choking hazard. If a toy or toy part can fit through a cardboard toilet paper roll, it is a choking hazard for children under three years of age.
• Avoid toys with long strings or cords that could get caught around a child’s neck.
• Stay up to date on product recalls and safety alerts.
• Be aware of things such as latex balloons, metal jewellery, magnets, button batteries and sensory water beads that may look like toys but are dangerous to children.
• Buy toys with secure battery compartments.

After buying toys:

• Remove and throw away or recycle all toy packaging. Follow assembly instructions.
• Check toys for loose parts, broken pieces or sharp edges.

During playtime:

• Check where your child will be playing for tripping hazards, unsafe toys, loose cables, wet floors or things that may have been dropped.
• Actively watch your child and stay close enough to act if needed.
• Teach your child to use toys only as they’re meant to be used.

What to do if your child has been injured:

• Call 911 if a child has been injured and it’s a serious, life-threatening emergency.
• Act quickly if you think a child has swallowed a button battery. Take them to the nearest emergency department immediately. Do not induce vomiting.
• Call 911 or PADIS at 1-800-332-1414 if you are concerned a child has been poisoned.

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services to more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Our mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait times, improving EMS response times, increasing access to surgeries, and improving patient flow.