Safe and sound

Gift buying and decorating are holiday staples for many, but bad things can happen when caution gets thrown to the winter wind.

Take toys, for example.

Last year, more than 170,000 children ages 15 and younger were treated at the emergency room for toy-related injuries, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commis-sion, based in Bethesda, Md. More than 80,000 of those were children ages 5 and younger. The majority of the injuries were lacerations and contusions to the head and face.

''Dangerous toys and those with latent defects are not always obvious,'' said Elaine Welch, president and chief executive officer at the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind in Enola in a recent phone interview. ''With so much focus on high lead content and choking hazards over the last few years, there's more (public) awareness now than ever."

Welch suggested adult consumers inspect all toys before purchasing to ensure they're age appropriate; buy protective gear, such as helmets, knee and elbow pads, with any sports equipment; avoid toys that shoot or include propelled objects (BB guns, darts, archery equipment and slingshots); inspect toys for noise levels that may damage hearing (the recommended safety limit is 85 decibels when held close to the ear); supervise children when toy labels and common sense dictates; avoid toys with sharp edges or points; and never give toys with small parts to children under 3 years old.

''Young kids tend to put things in their mouths and choke," she said. ''If any part of a toy can fit in a toilet paper roll that is 1 inch in diameter, the toy is not appropriate for small kids.

''On all toys, there are age recommendations,'' she added. ''You as a parent have to determine where your child is in the developmental process, as well as your child's maturity level. Some kids mature faster or slower than other kids their age.''

For a listing and more details on toy recalls and safeguards, Welch said to visit the U.S. Product Safety Commission Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

Then, of course, there's fire safety.

As beautiful as decorative lights and candles can be, they also are fire hazards, said Tim Hileman, deputy chief at Altoona Fire Department.

''At this time of year, we always see an increase in house fires because people are getting out of their normal routines,'' he said. ''For example, someone may not use candles at all during the year and forget to blow them out before they go out shopping."

When using electric lights, it's important to look for frayed or exposed wires and to make sure no wires are pinched by furniture or being run under rugs, he said. Never use the same extension cord for more than three strands of lights and turn all lights off before leaving the house or going to bed.

In Altoona, there has been a steady average of seven to eight major house fires per year since 2004 between the months of November and January, Hileman said. So far, this year has been worse.

"This has been a rather unfortunate season for loss," he said. "We're already at two over the yearly average, and we still have quite a bit of the season to go."

Hileman didn't cite a particular reason for this year's high number of house fires but said the anemic economy may have played a part, as more people are using alternative heat sources such as space and electric heaters to cut down on their heating bills.

"We were kind of expecting it to be a little worse than usual this year," he said.

And what about physical injuries sustained as a result of putting up decorations? Fortunately, they've been few and far between, said Lonnie Styles, director of the physical therapy department at Blair Orthopedic Associates and Sports Medicine in Altoona.

"We don't see a whole lot of those things during the holidays," he said. "But we do get a handful of people every year who stand on a chair or stool and fall - so really, they're just using an inappropriate tool for the job."

Styles cited back, shoulder, wrist and hand fractures as common injuries he sees this time of year.

"You have to be careful of icy surfaces," he said. "People need to be wearing shoes with good traction."

Tim Parnell, managing partner and physical therapist at Crossroads Physical Therapy and Rehabilita-tion Inc. in Altoona, said using proper lifting techniques also comes in handy when hefting those big boxes and Christmas trees.

"When squatting, always lift with your legs and keep your back straight - and contract stomach muscles to support your back," he said. "And always test the load before you lift. If it's bulky, get another person to help."

Mirror Staff Writer Jimmy Mincin is at 946-7460.

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