The Child Accident Prevention Trust have launched a new campaign, warning parents about the rising number of dangerous toys sold online in time for Christmas.
With consumers feeling the pressure on their finances, The CAPT want to keep parents away from the lure of cheap toys. TV medic Dr Punam Krishan, a GP in Glasgow with two of her own children is supporting the campaign.
As a parent I know how much we want to see those happy faces when the kids find the toys they really wanted under the tree at Christmas.
It’s so easy to buy presents online without checking who the seller is or where they’re based.
Doctors deal with the aftermath of accidents to children and anything we can do to safeguard our children’s lives is worth supporting.
– Dr Punam Krishan
Child Accident Prevention Trust’s TOP TIPS
- Take care when buying from online marketplaces. They don’t have to check if the toys they sell are safe.
- If you can, opt for well-known brand names and retailers.
- Check who is selling the toy. If it’s a company you’ve never heard of, with no UK or EU address and the price is temptingly low, the toy may be illegal and unsafe.
- High-risk toys best avoided from unknown brands and sellers include those with:
– Super-strong magnets that can rip through your child’s belly
– Easy-access button batteries that can kill your child if swallowed
– Long cords that can strangle your child or small parts that can choke them
– Chargers that can catch fire or wires that can cause electric shocks.
- If you buy a toy that looks unsafe, trust your instincts and send it back.
With cost-of-living pressures, we’re all looking for cheaper alternatives, but these could come at a very high cost.
To put it simply, some of these toys can kill. That’s why we’re launching this campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of buying cheap toys on online marketplaces.
Figures show that up to 85% of accidents to under fives happen in our homes.
We’re urging families to follow our toy-buying tips this Christmas.
Katrina Phillips, Chief Executive, CAPT
