Holidays are the time for toys, not tragedy

2008-12-15

The holiday season is one of magic and joy for many Canadians. The abundance of music, decorations and gifts, especially toys, can make the holidays particularly exciting for children. However, it can also be a time of tragedy if a toy turns out to be harmful or deadly to a child.

Toys as gifts are an integral part of the season for many Canadian families. In 2007, Statistics Canada reported that $430.8 million—in toys, games and hobby supplies, including electronic games—was spent at large retailers in Canada during December 2006. Unfortunately, there were also close to a dozen manufacturer recalls on toys and other children’s products due to toxic contents or unsafe design in December of that same year.

All toys legally sold in Canada are regulated under the federal Hazardous Products Act. Requirements specified in the Act include labelling, noise level limits, and prohibited or restricted substances used in the manufacturing of the toys.

The Act also requires that manufacturers meet criteria set-out in the standard entitled, Electrically Operated Toys (C22.2 No. 149-1972). It was published in 1972, and last reaffirmed in 2004, by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), a standards development organization accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC).  The standard, which was developed to reduce the chance of injury from burns or shocks, applies to toys that plug into a wall outlet, such as train sets and illuminated components. Electric toy such as these are required to be certified by an SCC accredited Certification Body. Parents should always check to ensure that electric toys are certified and bear a appropriate certification mark. The mark on the products gives parents that extra assurance that toys meet the requirements of the safety standards.

While there is no foolproof way to ensure children won’t be injured or become ill from playing with a toy, there are a number of steps parents can take to increase the odds that the toys they choose are safe.

Denyse Boxell, the Project Leader at Safe Kids Canada, says her organization recommends that parents follow the “Four S’s” when choosing a toy for their child.

“We want them to check out the surface of the toy,” she says. “To see if it’s smooth. If the toy has a rough surface or has sharp corners, then you should cross it off your list.”

She says the next “S” stands for “soft toys.”

“When choosing a soft toy, you need to make sure the materials are fire-resistant,” she explains, adding that synthetic materials such as polyester are more fire-resistant than natural fibres.

“Also, parents should make sure the stuffing can’t come out and be chewed or choked on,” Boxell adds.

The third “S” stands for “strings,” says Boxell, meaning that parents should avoid toys with long cords or strings that can accidentally get wrapped around little necks in the midst of play.

Finally, she says, parents should consider the size of the child when picking out a toy.

“The smaller the child, the bigger the toy needs to be,” Boxell says. “Kids under three years old still put things in their ears, their noses, and especially their mouths as a way of exploring. They also can’t cough stuff up very well, so it’s especially important to pick something that they can’t accidentally swallow.”

She says one of the most important things a parent can do when choosing a toy for a child is read the information included on the item’s packaging. She says the packaging must include an age recommendation for the toy’s use, and any warnings about potentially dangerous parts.

“For example, if a toy includes magnets, there will be a warning on the package,” says Boxell. Magnets—used in toys such as some building sets, dolls and action figures, as well as jewellery—can be a health hazard if swallowed because they can become attracted to each other in the digestive tract, causing dangerous internal blockages or even bleeding.

Health Canada urges parents to keep these types of toys out of reach of younger children, and to warn older kids not to put magnets in their mouths for any reason.

Even when international or technical standards are referenced in legislation, parents should still be cautious when choosing toys for their children. This includes reading the package to ensure that the toy was manufactured for sale in Canada.

According to Boxell, the most crucial step parents can take in minimizing the risk to their children, of injury from toys, during the holidays, is to monitor them while they’re playing.

“It can really be hard to keep smaller kids away from toys that aren’t safe for them, especially if there are several kids with different ages in the house,” she says. “That’s why supervision is so important.”

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