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Parents should be vigilant to the risks that make the household a hazard this Christmas.
Babies and toddlers are at risk of choking or swallowing small toy parts as well as other small objects from the tree or in Christmas stockings such as jewellery, tree decorations, magnets, party favours, beads and batteries.
Small button or disc batteries, which can be found inside electronic Christmas cards, flashing Christmas jewellery, toys, games and watches, are particularly dangerous and have caused serious and potentially fatal internal damage when swallowed. If they get stuck they burn a hole through the tissue within an hour.
Kidsafe Queensland CEO Susan Teerds warned that there were a number of hazards to keep an eye out for this Christmas. She said that the small batteries often flew ’under the radar’ and parents could be unaware of the effects of extended exposure to skin and consumption . Magnets were another hazard that parents are often unaware of.
“Magnets in toys and magnets generally pose a serious health risk ,” she said. “If a child does not choke on a single magnet, it will often pass through their system, but if they swallow multiple magnets the magnets will draw toward each other and tear through the lining of the gut causing perforation, bleeding, infection and possible death. Older children are also at risk of injury from magnetic jewellery such as magnetic nose piercings when the magnets lodge in the septum and need to be surgically removed.”
Mrs Teerds recommended considering the size and material of Christmas ornaments — checking for parts that could come loose, detach or break, She also warned that lights or tinsel could become a strangulation hazard if they were longer than 30 centimetres.
Foam mats are safe for our children
Recent testing of foam play mats and toys for the chemical formamide has found no evidence that these products present any risk to children.
The ACCC and some state/territory consumer product safety agencies tested a total of 16 ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam products. Half of the products tested released no measureable amount of formamide, and, where formamide was measured, the amounts released were very small.
Based on the actual testing, it was concluded that a child would need to mouth for 20 minutes, or ingest, at least 4.17 square metres of typical foam play mat every day over their entire life to approach a level of exposure to formamide which might raise health concerns.
The potential exposure of children to formamide from these products was calculated and compared to the internationally recognised lowest observable adverse effect level cited in Environment/Health Canada’s Screening Assessment for the Challenge: Formamide.
While most contact children have with these products is through their skin, the exposure estimate also considered a worst-case scenario, where children might mouth or ingest the foam.
Foam play mats and toys typically available in Australia do not expose children to unsafe amounts of formamide and these products are safe for their intended purpose.
Child capsule and restraint hire & installation services
Kidsafe hires, installs and sells baby capsules, toddler seats and booster seats from Kidsafe House in Herston - Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. From January 2011, Kidsafe Qld will also be offering the convenience of its child car restraint checking, installation and hire service at The Wesley, in addition to the services currently provided from Kidsafe House in Bramston Terrace, Herston. More details
 Safety Products
Kidsafe Qld have an extensive range of safety products that can be used around the home including St John Ambulance First Aid Kits. Kidsafe Qld also sells a number of child restraints.
Click here to view our Safety Product Range and download an Order Form.
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