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Show Keep Safety in Mind When Shopping for xmas Toy-related injuries will wipe out the joy of the holiday season for thousands of youngsters this year. Many accidents can be avoided by heeding some common sense precautions especially by hurried shoppers looking for childrens' gifts at the last minute. The Utah Easter Seal Society suggests that shoppers shop-pers take a few minutes to examine a toy before buying. That extra time could save a child from serious injury. in-jury. Although most toys on the market are safe for children, thanks to comprehensive safety standards developed by the American toy inr dustry, there are still some that are potentially dangerous. The U.S. Consumer Con-sumer Products Safety Commission has banned some 1800 toys in the past three years, most of foreign origin. Parents can help cut down accidents by providing safe storage space for toys suitable for older children that would be hazardous in the hands of young children. Most of the estimated 150,000 toy related injuries each year occur through misuse of the toys, lack of guidance and adequate instructions. in-structions. Be sure your child is old enough or sophisticated enough for the toy you choose. Don't give a six-year-old shooting toys or a preschooler pre-schooler a chemistry set. Beware of rough or sharp edges on toys and stay away from toddlers' toys that come apart easily those tiny parts can choke a child. When shopping for an infant, in-fant, be sure toy is un-. breakable and too big to fit in the child's mouth. A broken piece of plastic can do great damage to a youngster's eyes or ears. Check all electric toys to be sure that both the cord and the toy itself have UL (Underwriters Laboratorv) approval. If not, don't buy it. Finally, teach your child to use his toys wisely. Go over the instructions with him and be sure he knows how to en- joy the gift safely. |