Assemblyman Leland Yee: Holiday Safety Begins at Home

As we all know, the holidays can be both an exciting and frantic time. There are meals to cook, parties and vacations to plan and, of course, shopping to do. The holiday season is a time when many new toys and products hit the market. When the to-do list grows to be miles long, parents are often forced to make quick decisions when purchasing toys and gifts for their children.

When it comes to holiday safety, our number-one priority should be our children. That is why December is National Safe Toy and Gift Month. In 2000, approximately 191,000 children in the United States received emergency treatment for toy-related injuries and of these, 17 died. Although the majority of toys are safe, they must be used correctly to prevent choking or other toy-related accidents.

Organizations like the Safe Kids Campaign provide tips for parents when choosing age-appropriate gifts and toys for children. To ensure that a well-meaning gift does not become a potential threat to your child, consider some of these important safety guidelines:

· Avoid toys with small removable parts, which can pose a choking hazard to children under age 3, and toys with sharp points or edges;

· Steer clear of toys that produce loud noises. Toy guns and high-volume portable cassette recorders can permanently impair a child's sensitive hearing;

· Propelled toys, such as darts or pellet guns, can cause cuts or serious eye injuries;

· Watch out for toys with strings, straps or cords longer than seven inches, which could wrap around a child's neck;

· Electrical toys are a potential burn hazard. Avoid toys with a heating element, batteries or electrical plugs for children under age 8;

· Toys painted with lead paint can be dangerous. Exposure to lead can result in lead poisoning, causing serious damage to a child's brain, kidneys and nervous system;

· Be aware of packaging. Discard cellophane, styrofoam and other packing materials immediately after a toy is unwrapped;

· When purchasing bicycles, tricycles, scooters, skates, skateboards, sleds or other such toys, always remember to include the proper protective gear, such as a helmet, knee and elbow pads and wrist guards;

· Always pay attention to recommended age guidelines when selecting toys for children. Most toys are labeled with recommended age guidelines, including video games.

This year, I am introducing two important pieces of legislation to limit our children's access to mature-rated video games.

Currently, laws regulate minors' exposure to materials that are deemed harmful, such as alcohol, tobacco and pornography. My bills would add certain video games that depict graphic violence to the list of harmful materials for children, thus making it illegal to sell these games to minors. It would also regulate the manner in which storeowners display mature-rated games.

These bills are not intended to interfere with First Amendment rights or punish children for playing video games; they are simply intended to protect minors from exposure to the type of violence that can lead to aggressive attitudes or behavior later in life. I hope you have a safe and happy holiday season.

Assemblyman Leland Yee is the assistant speaker pro tempore at the California Assembly.