Doctors and health experts advise parents not to be negligent regarding the issue of choosing toys for their children, because some of them may be dangerous and lead to catastrophic accidents that may end in the death of their loved ones, according to a report published by the newspaper “Washington Post“American.
According to data from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, toy-related injuries led to 145,000 children under the age of 12 entering emergency rooms in 2022.
Which games pose the highest risks?
At the forefront of these toys are water beads, which are small, brightly colored balls that increase significantly in size when immersed in water.
Doctors confirm that young children may put these beads in their ears or nose, but what is worse is when they put them in their mouths.
In this regard, Sarah Combs, a physician and director of awareness in the Emergency Department at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, said that when these beads are swallowed, they continue to absorb water and grow in the intestinal tract, leading to life-threatening obstructions and injuries.
Combs explained that these balls can be pulled out using a specialized tool, but sometimes when these balls expand and become slippery, resorting to surgery becomes unavoidable.
Toys with magnets and batteries
Toys that contain magnets, tiny button batteries, or coins can cause severe internal damage or even death if swallowed.
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“If a child swallows a battery or a magnet, it could lead to decreased blood flow to the intestinal areas or tissue necrosis, which means the body’s tissues die,” said Kerry Lehman, chief of emergency medicine at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in the US capital.
He stressed that swallowing micro-batteries could also lead to burns, due to the battery coming into contact with saliva or other body fluids.
He continued: “The current in the battery causes a reaction, which can lead to a hole in the tissue.”
Lehman noted that the most serious problems usually occur in the esophagus, because batteries can get stuck in the narrow area behind the thoracic inlet, which is located between the neck and chest.
The doctor asked parents to keep in mind that children can access the batteries, even if the toy is closed, adding: “Toys in which the battery entrance is fixed with tight screws are safer for children.”
Electric vehicles and scooters
Emergency doctors and safety experts advise parents not to buy small electric vehicles, such as cars, electric bicycles, and scooters, so that their children are not exposed to bone-breaking accidents, some of which may be very serious, says Dr. Combs.
Combs cautioned that these fractures can usually be treated in the emergency room, but they may require surgery in more serious cases.
Regular, non-motorized scooters are considered a safer option for children, although they are a major cause of injuries among children in the United States.
In 2022, about 23,000 children aged 12 or younger were injured by non-motorized scooters, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Scooters may pose significant risks to children
But because non-motorized scooters travel at slower speeds, injuries are usually less serious, Combs said.
In this regard, Combs stressed that when children are given non-motorized bicycles, the necessary safety equipment must be provided for their use.
She said: “We must ensure that the child wears a suitable helmet, and to encourage him to do so, we recommend that it be painted in that child’s favorite color.”
“trampoline”
Although children love trampolines, they are a common cause of a wide range of injuries.
The most common conditions seen by Dr. Joanna Cohen, a pediatric emergency physician at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, are sprained ankles and broken arms.
She explained that this usually happens when more than one child jumps and bumps into each other.
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Injuries can also occur from falling on the springs or frame of a trampoline, falling off a trampoline or attempting somersaults or other “risky” stunts, Cohen added.
Placing the trampoline on the ground (not in a high place) or having a net around it helps reduce the risk of falling.
Weapon games
Toys that shoot plastic or fire projectiles, such as rocket launchers, toy guns or slingshots, can cause various injuries, including to the eyes.
Combs said that the toy itself could unintentionally explode while playing with it, resulting in a projectile being fired and harming the child’s eyes, and the damage would then be significant due to the close distance.
Cohen also appealed to parents, saying: “Please do not buy toys that shoot small pieces at children.”
2023-12-17 08:22:41
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