Keep
Kids Safe Around Electric Toys
With Christmas
coming up this weekend there will be lots of new toys around many of your homes.
If you are thinking of giving electric toys for gifts this year, there are
several things to keep in mind for choosing, using and storing these toys.
Don't buy an electrical toy or any toy, for a child too young to use it
safely. Always check the age recommendation on the shelf package. And remember
that this is only a minimum age recommendation; not every 8-year-old is
necessarily able to safely handle a toy for children of that age. Keep the
specific child in mind when you choose a gift.
Read the toy's instructions carefully and then read them again with any
child who will be playing with the toy. Be sure that the child knows how to use
the items safely, understands all the instructions and warning labels, and is
aware of the hazards of misusing the toy. The instructions should be kept with
the toy or in a safe place where they can be found easily.
Always supervise children when they're using any electrical product.
Be sure that the plug of an electric toy fits snugly into wall outlets or
(if they must be used) extension cord receptacles. Teach children always to
disconnect an electrical appliance after use by grasping the plug, not by
pulling the cord.
Keep infants and toddlers out of the area in which an electrical toy is
being used.
All electric toys should be put away immediately after use in a dry
storage area out of the reach of younger children.
Check the condition of your child's electric toys often. Look for any
broken parts, frayed cords, or other damage. Have the toy repaired or replaced
if you notice any damage.
Only an adult or responsible older child should replace a light bulb on
an electrical toy; it is extremely important that the replacement bulb be the
proper wattage ant that the plug is disconnected when the bulb is changed.
SVEC
- Keep Kids Safe Around Electric Toys - Page 2
It's best to plug electric toys and children's products into GFCI-protected
circuits.
Children's electrical toys are covered by several regulations; to check
on these requirements, go to the Consumer Product Safety Commission website at www.cpsc.gov.
You
can check any toy you're considering for your children against these
requirements to be sure it meets current safety standards.