Contributed
December is National Safe Toys and Gifts Month, providing a timely opportunity to raise awareness of toy safety as families head out to do holiday shopping. In its most recent report, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated 154,700 children 12 years or younger were treated in emergency rooms in 2023 due to toy-related injuries. Common reasons for ER visits include choking hazards, sharp edges and ingestion.
“Making sure toys are age-appropriate is really important when choosing holiday gifts,” said Dr. Amber Teague, a pediatrician at HCA Florida Osceola Hospital specializing in emergency medicine. “Also, be careful of toys for older children that might harm a younger sibling. Toys containing batteries or small parts can lead to serious injury or even death if swallowed, so adult supervision is vital.”
In its report, the Consumer Product Safety Commission found non-motorized scooters accounted for the largest share of injuries across all age groups – more than one in every five toy-related injuries for children under 15. Emergency room doctors recommend giving safety gear, including helmets, with gifts of scooters or other riding toys.
The most common toy-related injuries are lacerations, or open wounds often requiring medical care. Bruising and scrapes, and fractures were second and third most common for all age groups, while ingestion and internal injuries were second and third most common for children under five.
It’s also important to purchase toys from stores and online retailers you know and trust. The Commission, in collaboration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, seized nearly 1.5 million dangerous or illegal toys in fiscal year 2024. More than 100,000 of the seizures were related to products containing lead, which can harm brain development and cause other serious health issues.
“We want families to enjoy the holidays while being mindful of safety,” said Dr. Teague. “Follow age and safety guidelines for toy purchases, provide supervision and buy from reputable sources to help your little ones have a fun, injury-free holiday.”
For questions about whether an illness or injury needs medical attention, you can call HCA Healthcare’s free Consult-A-Nurse line at 844-70-NURSE (844-706-8773) 24 hours a day, seven days a week to speak to a licensed, experienced nurse. For healthcare services near you, visit hcafloridahealthcare.com.
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About HCA Florida Healthcare
HCA Florida Healthcare, a part of HCA Healthcare, is a family of more than 650 affiliated sites of care, including hospitals, physician practices, freestanding emergency rooms and urgent care centers. As one of the state’s leading healthcare networks, HCA Florida Healthcare’s 11,100 experienced doctors and more than 84,000 colleagues work together to deliver equitable, evidence-based collaborative care through more than 12 million patient encounters annually. HCA Florida Healthcare is committed to improving more lives in more ways and giving back to the communities it serves. In 2024, the network provided more than $1 billion in uncompensated care and contributed more than $3.7 million to community organizations across the state. In addition, HCA Florida Healthcare offers patients access to highly trained specialists, including the state’s most comprehensive cardiovascular network. A strong advocate for the next generation of healthcare professionals, HCA Florida Healthcare is a leader in training future healthcare professionals, offering 151 Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs at 27 different hospitals with more than 2,400 residents. For more information, please visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.
About HCA Florida Osceola Hospital
HCA Florida Osceola Hospital is a Joint Commission-accredited 407-bed tertiary hospital and a designated Level II Trauma Center. The hospital is a teaching hospital in collaboration with UCF College of Medicine and offers the highest level of heart and stroke care in Osceola County at the Heart and Vascular Institute and the Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center, respectively.
Other only-in-the-county services include: the highest level of Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU Level III) in affiliation with Nemours Children’s Health, Acute Inpatient Physical Rehabilitation and Inpatient Mental Health and Wellness. HCA Florida Osceola Hospital also provides robotic surgery in General Surgery, Spine, Orthopedic, Gynecology, Urology and Oncology. 24/7 emergency services include Chest Pain Center with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), and five freestanding emergency rooms: Hunter’s Creek Emergency, Millenia Emergency, Airport North Emergency, Osceola East Emergency and HCA Florida West Orange Emergency. In addition to the Women and Children's Services, the hospital offers outpatient services including the Osceola Imaging Center, Wound Healing Center, Kissimmee Physical Therapy Center, Kissimmee Surgery Center, and Mental Health and Wellness Outpatient Center. For more information, please visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.
