As a nurse, you’re no stranger to making sure your patients and their families are safe and cared for. Your focus is always on high-quality patient care and during the season of gift-giving, you want to ensure the gifts you give your loved ones are of the same high-quality standards.

The national organization, Prevent Blindness, has deemed December as National Safe Toys and Gifts month to spread awareness of potential health risks that some holiday gifts may impose. To help make your holiday shopping a little less worrisome, below is a list of some toys that are identified as creating a potential hazard risk.

Naughty toys that can be hazardous:

• Toys with small parts - Many games and toys come with hazardous materials that can easily become lodged in a child’s throat or cause other serious damage. Make sure you read all warnings and directions before giving a gift.

• Magnets - These small toys can wreak havoc on internal organs. Always ensure there is proper child supervision if magnets are involved in toys and games.

• Scooters and other riding toys - Although fun, these gifts can cause serious injuries if proper safety is not advised. Proper safety gear such as helmets and pads should be worn at all times.

• Balloons - When deflated or broken, these seemingly inconspicuous decorations can pose a deadly choking threat if ingested. Always be sure to discard broken or deflated balloons promptly.

From all of us at Fastaff, we wish your family and loved ones a safe holiday season. For more resources on toy safety, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission or the Safe Toy Checklist by Prevent Blindness.

Source: https://www.cpsc.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2018/dont-play-with-toy-safety-cpsc-tips-for-safe-gifts & https://www.cpsc.gov//PageFiles/122493/5087.pdf