Health Tips for March 10

Health Tip: Check Baby's Toys for Safety Issues

Play time for babies and toddlers should be fun for both the young ones and their parents.

The U.S. Home Safety Council says parents should check all toys to make sure they're safe and age-appropriate for children. It offers these guidelines:

• Use a toilet paper roll to gauge safe toy size. (Toys should be too big to fit into the child's mouth.) If any of your young one's toys fit inside the toilet paper roll, they probably are a choking hazard.
• Inspect toys to ensure there are no broken parts.
• Search your home for any tiny toys or parts that could pose a choking hazard.
• Store toys and games designed for older children out of reach of younger ones.
• Avoid toys with cords or strings that could become wrapped around a child.
• Keep latex balloons away from children.
• Make sure all toys have been safety-tested.
• Don't let young children play with motorized or electric toys.
• Throw away packaging from new toys as soon as possible.

Health Tip: Teach Children Safety Around Cars

Kids playing in the yard may be easily distracted and not notice an oncoming car. Busy drivers may also be focused elsewhere and not notice a child in danger.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers these safety tips to avoid a "backover" accident:

• Children must be taught not to play inside or around cars. Parents should always keep an eye on kids when cars are nearby.
• Before you enter your car and back up, walk around the vehicle to make sure no children are close by. While actually backing up, always watch carefully behind you and in side view mirrors.
• Make sure children know that when an adult gets into a nearby car, they should move out of the way, to a place where the driver can see them.
• Be particularly cautious if you drive a large vehicle. Roll down the windows and stick your head out to look to the side and behind you as you back up.
• Keep kids' toys, bicycles and equipment away from the driveway.
• Do not to completely depend on a backup camera or alert system to keep you from backing over something.