Assemblyman Leland Yee: Safety Begins at Home

The holiday season is a time when many new toys and products hit the market, and advertisers gear their efforts toward children and parents alike. With lengthy holiday to-do lists and numerous social commitments, parents are often forced to make quick decisions when purchasing toys and gifts for their children.

When it comes to holiday safety, our highest 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 children died. Last year, children under age 14 suffered close to 3,000 eye injuries caused by toy weapons, BB guns, slingshots and other propelled toys. Although the majority of toys are safe for our children, they must be used correctly and not fall into the wrong hands to prevent choking, eye injury, other toy-related accidents and even psychological affects.

Organizations like the Safe Kids Campaign and Prevent Blindness America provide tips for parents when choosing age-appropriate gifts and toys for their children. When purchasing a toy, consider some of these important safety guidelines:
• Avoid toys with small removable parts, which can pose a choking hazard to children under age three, 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 eight;
• 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;
• Finally, always pay attention to recommended age guidelines when selecting toys for children. Parents should also look for the symbol "ASTM F963." This indicates the product meets national standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials. Looking for the symbol is extremely important, as there have already been a number of reports of stores unintentionally stocking "knock-off" toys, which are counterfeit toys made to look like toys from responsible manufacturers.

Knock-off toys have not been inspected and are often products of inferior materials and shoddy workmanship. Keep an eye out for recalled products. Large toy retailers post regular notices of recalled toys, usually at the front of the store. Take recalled products back to the store where they were purchased to get a full refund.

For further information on toy and product recalls, visit the United States Product Safety Commission's Web site at www.cpsc.gov. For lists of current toys on the market with identified hazards, visit www.toysafety.org.

We can all work to protect our children's physical well-being by selecting age-appropriate toys and carefully monitoring their use.

But, we should also do our part to protect our children's mental well-being during the holiday season. Most toys are labeled with recommended age guidelines, including video games. I have authored two pieces of legislation to limit our children's access to mature-rated video games.

One, AB 1793, chaptered into law in 2004, requires retailers to display signs explaining the video game ratings system.

Also, AB 1179, signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last year, prohibits the sale of ultra-violent video games to minors. These bills are not intended to interfere with First Amendment rights or punish children for playing video games. They are simply to protect minors from exposure to the type of violence that can lead to aggressive attitudes or behavior later in life.

With so much on our minds during the holidays, safety rarely seems to be a top priority. However, hectic schedules and rushed plans are precisely why safety should be taken into consideration during the holidays.

There are many things we can do protect and improve our families' safety during the holiday season. Do not leave children unattended with their new toys. Make sure you have an appropriate car seat if you are taking your child on a trip and, above all, lead by example and practice holiday safety yourself.

Wishing you a safe and happy holiday season.

Leland Yee is the speaker pro tempore in the California Assembly and will be assuming a post in the California Senate in January.