The most dangerous Christmas toys

There is very little time left until the New Year, and decorated Christmas trees are already showing off in many Ukrainian apartments (especially where there are children). Not all parents understand that this integral attribute of the holiday can be dangerous for toddlers, preschool and primary school children. First of all, because of the jewelry sold in our stores. A week ago in Lviv, a 4-year-old child swallowed a light bulb from a garland: it had to be taken out during bronchoscopy under general anesthesia. What other New Year's toys are dangerous for children? A child safety expert told about this on her Facebook page. Elena Lizvinskaya.

Herringbone, do not burn: why are Christmas toys dangerous?

A week ago, a four-year-old baby was admitted to one of the Lviv hospitals with complaints of coughing and shortness of breath. On x-rays, doctors found a foreign body in the child's right bronchus. It was decided to operate on the little patient immediately. During the operation, surgeons removed a garland light from the airways. The sharp edges of the part have already scratched the mucous membrane of the trachea - there were many hemorrhages on it. If the parents delayed going to the hospital, the child could develop a dangerous pneumothorax.

Thoracic surgeon Alexander Kolodiy, who performed the operation, admitted in his commentary to TSN that on New Year's Eve the risk of swallowing a foreign body in children increases. Last year, in his practice, there were 4 such cases: two children - with light bulbs from a garland, one child ate broken glass from a toy, and another - Christmas tree needles. How many such situations occur throughout Ukraine is difficult to say. but child safety expert Elena Lizvinskaya says Christmas decorations during the holidays are one of the most potentially dangerous "risk areas."

First of all, because for a dangerous situation it is not even necessary to leave the child himself in the room. He can put a light bulb in his mouth in a matter of seconds, while his mother decorates a Christmas tree nearby (which happened in Lviv). Secondly, not every child can tell his parents that he has swallowed something. Kids will quickly forget about it, the elders will be afraid of punishment, and as a result, time for first aid will be wasted. Thirdly, dangerous situations can happen not only with babies, but also with adolescents. Age is not a guarantee that a child will not be able to do stupid things.

Christmas toys: a list of the main risks for children

Tinsel. Bright and shiny Christmas tinsel is very pleasant and soft to the touch. Children often wear it on themselves like a fluffy scarf. Note, however, that this tinsel is usually based on wires of varying thicknesses. Even an adult cannot tear it apart, let alone a child who has wrapped a beautiful "accessory" around his neck several times.

Rain. Long and flowing fluffy rain is the basis of many games. It, like tinsel, can be wrapped around the neck, played with it in "catch-up" and "catchers", in a horse, in a dog on a leash. Please note that modern rain is not made of foil (as before), but cellophane. Under intense influence, it does not break, but stretches, turning into a thin and strong cellophane "thread".

Garland. An obligatory attribute that gives the holiday a sense of magic and fairy tale. Remember that it must be inaccessible to the child. Conventional LED garlands with small bulbs are difficult to disassemble, but there is always a risk that a child may chew it. But garlands in which a glass or plastic shade is put on a light bulb are a real danger. Also, protect the child's access to the plug and socket (usually all this "good" together with the extension cord is under the tree on the floor). And leave electric lights unattended on at night.

Glass Christmas tree decorations. Beautiful and magical, fragile and airy - glass Christmas tree decorations compare favorably with plastic ones in appearance. However, keep in mind that now they are mostly made of cheap glass. When dropped, such glass does not crumble into small fragments, but breaks into large sharp pieces, which are easy to injure. In this regard, transparent Christmas balls are especially dangerous, the fragments of which are difficult to notice.

Decorated jewelry. Many Christmas tree decorations today are strewn with sparkles, decorated with small pieces of rain, multi-colored foam balls and even rather large rhinestones. Keep in mind that glitter can easily get into the respiratory system or into the eyes of a child, and rhinestones and polystyrene are very easy to pick out and put in your mouth. Therefore, if possible, avoid such toys or hang them higher so that they are inaccessible to the child.

Holders for jewelry. Separately, it must be said about the holders with which we hang toys on the Christmas tree. Most of them are very easy and effortless to get out of the toy itself. Rigid wire, which acts as "spacers" here, can damage your eyes. And if a child manages to swallow such a holder, mucosal injuries are guaranteed to him.

Which Christmas toys are safe for children?

The safety of the child needs to be taken care of even at the time of choosing Christmas tree decorations, says Elena Lizvinskaya. If you have not yet decorated the Christmas tree, then with a small child you should give preference not to store toys, but to “home” toys made with your own hands. These can be decorations made of paper or felt (while avoiding small items such as beads, buttons), wood crafts, cookies and gingerbread. By the way, with the help of hand-made toys, you can turn preparation for the new year into a whole ritual: when you and your child prepare decorations for the Christmas tree yourself. This will create a real atmosphere of a family holiday, and at the same time you will definitely be sure of the quality and safety of New Year's paraphernalia.

You will also be interested in reading:

What to give a child for the New Year: useful gifts for all ages

Interesting traditions of celebrating the New Year in different countries of the world