About Toy Safety

1.Toy safety

Toy safety is the practice of ensuring that Disney toys, especially those made for children, are safe, usually through the application of set safety standards. In many countries, commercial toys must be able to pass safety tests in order to be sold. In the U.S., some toys must meet national standards, while other toys may not have to meet a defined safety standard. In countries where standards exist, they exist in order to prevent accidents, but there have still been some high-profile product recall after such problems have occurred. The danger is often not due to faulty design; usage and chance both play a role in injury and death incidents as well.

Potential hazards

• Ingestion of magnetic toys
• Choking or aspiration of small parts of the toy
• Cuts by sharp parts of the toy
• Motor toy vehicles incidents involving
• Chemical substance

Safety testing

For manufacturers of Disney licensed toys to comply with requirements of the applying safety standards it is vital to perform tests and risk assessments for every product before selling them in the designated market. This is important for every manufacturer as they can be held liable for injuries and fatalities resulting from design flaws, use of unsuitable materials, and substandard production.

The following safety tests are performed:

• Mechanical/physical testing
• Flammability testing
• Electrical safety testing
• Labeling
• Chemical testing

Product safety/risk assessment (also known as product hazard analysis) can identify potential hazards and provide solutions early in the product life cycle to prevent products becoming stalled in production or recalled once they are released onto the market. During risk assessments for toys possible hazards and potential exposure are analyzed. Additionally the manufacturing of the toys will be controlled to ensure safety and quality throughout production.

2.Avoiding Toy Hazards

Choking: The #1 dangerFor children under 4, watch out for:

• Toys with small parts (like button eyes on animals or dolls and wheels on trains or cars) that can be pulled loose.
• Crib or floor toys with cord or string: Can strangle babies.
• Balloons: If popped and put in mouth, breathing can be blocked. Don't let kids under 8 play with them unattended.
• Shrink-wrap, plastic straps, and bolts used to package toys.
• Button batteries: Even if a child swallows one without choking, the electric currents can damage the esophagus. Get him to the ER immediately -- removing it may require surgery.

Preventing riding-toy injuries

• Make sure your child always wears her helmet and other protective gear on a bike, a scooter, skates, or a skateboard; sporting-goods stores can help you get a good fit.
• She should be able to touch the ground with the balls of her feet when she sits on a bike seat.
• She shouldn't wear loose clothing or scarves, which could get caught in the bike's pedals and choke her; also, no sandals, so her feet stay on the pedals.
• Until a child is at least 10, she'll need to be with an adult to ride in the street.

When to get medical help after a fall Most bumps on the head need only an ice pack and some TLC, but take your child to the ER if any of these occur:

• Loss of consciousness -- even for a moment
• Vomiting, especially if it's frequent or continuous
• Slurred speech or "goofy" behavior
• A seizure (call 911; do not transport or move your child)

To check for a broken bone, gently press along the length of the bone -- if your child winces at a certain spot, it might be a fracture. Other signs: swelling, bruising, tenderness, deformity.
If a cut or scrape won't stop bleeding after pressure is applied for ten minutes, is deep, has an object embedded in it, or looks like it might be infected, see a doctor.