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Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
Because she knows the consequences of these gifts too well, Dr. Meghan Martin believes that certain toys should be banned from your children’s Christmas list, if you don’t want to end up in the emergency room tomorrow. Also discover the advice of Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor.
An American emergency doctor revealed on TikTok the 5 toys she would never give her children for Christmas.
Button battery toys
The doctor specifies that these batteries are contained in small compartments closed with poor quality screws, which too often risk breaking and thus leaving the batteries within the reach of children. Even if the toy is very attractive, “it’s not worth it. [Les piles boutons] can literally kill children and they do it every year” concludes the expert.
The High Authority for Health and the Society of Clinical Toxicology published their recommendations in February 2022 for how to react. “When a button battery is ingested, it can become blocked in the esophagus and cause a local burn, the severity of which increases significantly after the second hour. The risk is increased if the battery has a diameter greater than or equal to 15 mm and when the child is aged 5 years or less” explains the High Authority of Health (HAS). Even if the risk of ingestion is assumed, you must react very quickly by leaving the child fasting, without trying to make him vomit and call 15 or a poison control center, in order to to receive the first instructions for the care of the child, based on a precise assessment of his condition.
Water pearls
Water pearls have already been the subject of warnings from health authorities as they prove dangerous if ingested. “Water beads are sold as sensory toys, but children can ingest them when they are small, and they can grow larger and cause problems. intestinal obstructions“, warned Dr. Martin, even specifying that incidents also occur with domestic animals.
Since small beads can absorb 400 times their weight in water, they could significantly increase in volume several hours after ingestion. “The most serious cases may require major surgery and are sometimes fatal if left untreated. insisted the General Directorate of Health in 2019. If your child has ingested water pearls, immediately call a poison control center, which will give you medical advice and what to do.
Electric scooters
Buying an electric scooter is attractive, but the emergency doctor points out the significant risks of sometimes serious accidents. “The kids are going way too fast with this. They hit a bump, go gliding, injure their face, arms and head“. In July 2023, a report from theAcademy of Medicineeven judged that the use of electric scooters has become a major health problem.
Hoverboards
“We see so many hoverboard injuries right after Christmas!“, specifies the doctor, adding that the children”break their forearms, elbows and sometimes their heads“. She also mentions risks linked to the safety of these machines: “Hoverboards can literally set your house on fire“.
In March 2023, an American study warned of the dangers that children’s use of a hoverboard, considered as dangerous as a trampoline, could cause: 36 children would be seen in the emergency room every day after an accident.
Trampolines
At the top of the list of the most dangerous toys, Dr. Meghan Martin places trampolines with a clear judgment: “I hate trampolines. They keep the emergency department and orthopedic team running. It doesn’t matter if you have a net, it doesn’t matter if it’s buried in the ground, most injuries happen on the trampoline“.
Concussions, fractures, sprains… In June 2022, an English study revealed that half of emergency admissions for English children under 14 were due to trampoline accidents.
“I hope you have a wonderful vacation and don’t need to visit me” concludes the expert.
The 5 essential tips from Dr Gérald Kierzek
Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician and medical director of Doctissimo, shares the advice of his American colleague and adds a few:
- “Generally speaking, it is imperative to respect the standards (CE marking), the ages, and it is also useful to look at online reviews, for example on Digital for high-tech toys;
- Don’t let younger children play with the packaging;
- Be aware of the risk of strangulation with anything that is cords, strings, etc.
- Beware of toxic substances, particularly in lead paint, beware in particular of these lead soldiers found in a garage sale or on a second-hand site, and whose composition we do not know because there is no longer any label ;
- Be careful of the excessively high volume of certain toys. Choose toys with adjustable volumes, headphones with safety features to block a certain level of decibels.
For our expert, “Safety should be the priority when choosing the toy. Finally, it is not because the object complies with European standards and the age that the child should be allowed to use it in any way. Monitoring and learning must be done with parents“.
Slide: Christmas 2023: what are the best toys to put under the tree?