Courtesy of St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital The holiday season
is upon us, which makes it prime time for toy buying. In fact,
more than half of the three billion toys and games sold in the
U.S. each year are purchased at Christmas time. While the
majority of toys are safe, thanks in part to stronger federal
rules and higher standards from toy makers, the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission reports that last year alone more than
193,200 U.S. children were treated in hospital emergency
departments for toy-related injuries. “Toys have changed over
the years and the assortment can be astounding, particularly to
those who haven’t shopped for kids in a while,” says Bevin
Maynard, a child advocate at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital.
“Child safety, however, never goes out of style. It is something
parents and family members should always keep in mind when
selecting gifts for youngsters.” Maynard notes that appropriate
selection and proper use of toys, combined with parental
supervision, can greatly reduce the i