Don Keenan is an author, a trial lawyer and a child safety advocate. Joel and I have met Don and we both admire him. Don tirelessly works for child safety. He has conducted national safety projects such as the Playground Safety Project and Toy Safety. He wrote a book called 365 Ways To Keep Kids Safe.
Emergency room doctors want people to avoid certain toys that bring children to the emergency room. Toy related injuries accounted for over 145,000 emergency room visits for children ages 12 and younger in 2022 according to data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Doctors suggest avoiding toys with magnets and button batteries. They can be choking hazards but can also cause severe internal damage. The most serious issues typically occur in the throat where they can get stuck and cause serious burns. Magnets can cause constrictions in the bowels.
Water beads, brightly colored beads that grow large. Young children may put the beads in their ears, nostrils or worse, their mouth. When swallowed, the beads can continue to absorb water and grow in the intestinal tract leading to blockages and life-threatening injuries.
ER doctors caution against scooters and hoverboards for children. Those can lead to broken bones which can usually be reset in the emergency room but may require surgery in more serious cases.
Of course, doctors advise against rocket launchers, BB guns and slingshots. Obviously, we are in the south and every kid needs to learn how to shoot a Daisy Red Ryder BB gun, but with proper supervision. (But don’t shoot your eye out.) For more information reach out to a personal injury lawyer.
From everyone at McCutcheon & Hamner have a Merry Christmas!
