The month of December holds many important services and ideas to be recognized; however the Health and Wellness committee decided to focus onĀ National Safe Toys and Gifts Month. Most of the gifts children receive throughout the year can be associated with the December holiday season. Most toys today can be deemed safe due to the diligent work of numerous advocates who campaigned tirelessly forĀ the past 55 years or more.
A small bit of history to put toy safety into perspective. The observance of this month was originated by Prevent Blindness in America. Remember āYouāll shoot your eye out!ā?
Due to the tireless work of many advocacies, President Richard Nixon signed into law the Toy Safety Act in 1969.Ā This act authorized the Department of Health, Education and Welfare to test and ban hazardous toys. In December of 1970 they announced the ban of 39 toys which included archery sets, squeaker toys and breakable rattles. By 1974, more than 1,500 had been banned by the Consumer Product Commission. Some of these included xylophones because their edges were too sharp and the Betsy Wetsy doll because she was partially held together with straight pins. At this point in time, many parents felt the government had gone too far. In 1973 columnist John Lofton wrote that āin a free society parents should be able to deem what is safe for their children.ā At this point in time the toy industry and the government began to point to the parents as part of the problem. Perhaps some were not paying too close attention to their children.
Even though these precautions were made many years ago to protect the safety of children, over 251,700 were treated at hospital emergency rooms yearly for toy related injuries. 72% of these children were under the age of 15.
Some Holiday Safety tips when shopping:
- Look closely at the toys before purchasing.
- Make sure there are no sharp edges or pieces that can be pulled off easily.
- For children under three make sure there are no small parts, which can cause choking. A childās trachea is no wider than a straw.
- Make sure the age and skill level match the child you are giving the gift to.
- Lastly make sure the toy has the ATSM (American Society for Testing and Materials).
Health & Wellness Projects
- Operation Smileā in kind $1090.51, 129 hours
- South Jersey Dream Centerā 1820 lbs, $1073.66, 91 hours
- Angels Community Outreachā $500 (emergency heat/electricity), 222 lbs, $200 in kind food, 9 hours
- Seeds of Hopeā Valentineās Dayāin kind $105, 15 hours. In Nov. 86 snack bags were made, in kind $168, 13 hours and 1 sleep mat, 87 hours, all for the homeless.
- GWCMā hats and glovesāin kind $50. Food Pantriesā $615, in kind $3370, 173 hours. Boscov shopping passes, 11 sold ($55).
- School Supplies group projectā In kind $1100, 91 hours
- Pocketbook Project for Seeds of Hope and Domestic Violenceā 679 toiletry items and 65 pocketbooks donated, in kind $1950, 40 hours
- Rainbow Baby Blanketsā $80 in kind, 145 hours
- Jeannetteās Closetā 461 lbs, 15 hours
- Loganā In June the club donated $250 from the treasury and $250 in gift cards to a child undergoing cancer treatment at CHOP.
- Coleman familyā In Sept we donated $250 to a family whose wife is very ill.
- Local Familyā In Oct we donated $100 to a family whose house was struck by lightning and demolished.
Bring any clothing donations to Parkland Commons, WD., in front of the garage
Photo:Ā SEEDS OF HOPE SNACK BAGS: Some of our ladies got together and packed 86 snack bags for the kids of Camden.