When buying toys, take a few minutes to think about safety

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You’re looking for a toy for your child’s birthday or other special occasion. Before you buy, take a few minutes to think about safety. Each year, popular toys cause hundreds of thousands of emergency room visits.

One popular purchase for children, trampolines, are so dangerous they are not covered by some types of homeowners insurance policies. Although they are extremely popular, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that trampolines should never be used unless by athletes under supervision and training for a sport such as gymnastics. A big issue for insurers is that not only can a member of your own family be injured, but so can any child who visits your home. That creates a huge liability risk. Before you purchase any size of trampoline for your family, check with your insurance agent first!

If you have small children, you’ll want to check out the CoPIRG Foundation’s ‘Trouble in Toyland 2015′ report. This guide, released each year around the holidays, is a great year-round guide that can help parents avoid toys that are known to cause injury, including those that are high in lead and other dangerous chemicals.

The World Against Toys Causing Harm organization also publishes an annual safety guide. The latest guide reminds parents to be especially careful when purchasing toys online. Always buy from reputable retailers, whether in person or online. And be especially vigilant when purchasing used toys. Each year, thousands of toys are recalled. That’s why it’s always a good idea to check for recalls. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission makes it easy with its online tool.