Christmas toy safety

Last updated: 01 November 2007

Toy Safety

Christmas can be one of the happiest times of childhood with new gifts to enjoy and master. However, parents and carers need to make sure the gifts children receive are safe and appropriate for the child's age and abilities.

Trampolines, bikes and scooters are among the many gifts this year which will delight young recipients. But adults really need to make sure proper safety and supervision are provided so happy times don't turn sour with an unnecessary injury.

Of course all children riding bikes should be wearing helmets. With scooters NSW Health recommends children wear helmets, learn safe riding techniques, and only ride in safe areas away from traffic.

Trampolines required special consideration when being set up.

Trampolines can help to develop balance and coordination skills in children. Unfortunately they can also be the cause of many injuries to children. The injuries usually occur in the backyard with most children falling and hitting the side of the trampoline, the ground or another object on the ground.

Only one child should use the trampoline at a time. Multiple users risk collision and are in danger of causing the other user to fall on or from the trampoline.

The arm is the most common part of the body injured and the injuries include fractures, sprains and strains, cuts and bruises.

When you buy the trampoline also buy safety pads to cover the steel frame and springs. Try to place the trampoline in a hole in the ground so that the jumping surface is as close to the ground level as possible and make sure that the surface under and around the trampoline (the safe fall zone) is soft - use pine bark, woodchip or sand.

The safe fall zone should be at least two metres wide on all four sides of the trampoline and be free from hazards such as walls, toys and furniture.

However, no amount of protective garments are a substitute for close supervision by an adult while children master the skills necessary to enjoy their latest toys.

These gifts will give children endless hours of fun, help keep them active and fit and develop important coordination and motor skills.

However, it's important proper safety gear is worn and the bikes, scooters and trampolines are used in the most sensible way so any risk of injury to the child is minimised.

To ensure safety this Christmas health authorities are urging gift-givers to include any appropriate safety gear as part of the child's present, make sure the product they are buying meets Australian Standards and that the child you are buying for falls within the recommended age bracket set by the manufacturer.

Accidents can be avoided and with careful selection of gifts, matching them to the child's age or abilities, and by following proper safety procedures the number of children suffering painful injuries should be reduced.