Question: What does this figure represent?

152,400

Answer: It’s the estimated number of children under 15 who were treated for toy-related injuries in US hospital emergency rooms in 2005.

To keep kids safe during the holidays - and at any time of the year - ask yourself these 5 questions before buying a toy:

1. Is the toy age-appropriate? Respect age specifications recommended by the manufacturer. Toys that are designed for older children might contain safety hazards for younger children.

2. Has the toy passed the test? Buy safety-tested products. Products that contain the mark of independent, third-party product safety and certification organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) have been tested for safety.

3. Is the toy a choking hazard? If you’re buying a toy for a child under 3 years of age, check that all parts of the toy are larger than the child’s mouth. Use a paper towel roll as a guide. If a toy or a part of a toy fits inside the center of the roll, then it poses a choking hazard. Other choking hazards include parts that could break off, such as buttons or beads.

4 Is the toy a strangulation hazard? Pull toys with strings longer than 12 inches are particularly dangerous for babies.

5. Is the toy toxic? When buying paint sets, crayons or markers, make sure that they are labeled nontoxic.

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