Christmas Greetings from The Goodwins!

The last 24 hours were frenetic - preparing for a special time with family and friends; enjoying Christmas Eve dinner with Melanie, the kids, and the in-laws; a late night reading by daughter, Madison, from Chapter 2 of the Gospel of Luke; the packaging and wrapping of some final gifts; a visit by you-know-who after midnight; an early, early morning with the children, both of whom were most excited by the morning's activities and the certain discovery of gifts and treats; and then, later in the morning, an inspiring time at Edenton Street United Methodist Church in Raleigh with our fellow Christians worshipping and celebrating the Good News.

Don't Unwrap A Holiday Hazard This Christmas, Says Insurance Commissioner Goodwin

Emergency rooms see approximately 217,000 toy-related injuries each year. But the good news is tragedies from toys are most often injuries and not deaths. On average, only 15 children younger than 14 die from toy-related injuries each year according to Safe Kids USA. Choking on small parts is the most frequent cause of toy-related death.

"This holiday season, parents and caregivers should keep toy safety at the top of their shopping list," said Insurance Commissioner and Safe Kids N.C. State Chair, Wayne Goodwin. "Remind grandparents and other gift-givers that the right toy must be age-appropriate."


Toy Safety Tips

Stay up-to-date on toy recalls; sign up for e-mail alerts from the Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site.

If you buy or receive second-hand toys, check the CPSC's Web site to see if they are recalled.

Buy only age-appropriate toys. Toys with small parts (should be clearly marked) are not safe for children under 3.

Don't allow children under 3 to play with toys that belong to an older sibling and have small parts.

If you aren't sure whether a small part is a choking hazard, place the part into an empty toilet paper roll. If it fits, the toy is not safe for small children.

Always remove and discard the packaging from a toy before giving it to a baby or small child.

Check old and new toys regularly for damage such as sharp edges or small broken parts. Make any repairs or throw away the damaged toy.

Always supervise children at play.

Remember the number of toys recalled is a fraction of the 3 billion toys sold in the United States every year. Most toys on the market are considered safe and with some supervision and attention to age restrictions, everyone can have a safe and happy holiday season.

Safe Kids N.C. reaches out to parents, caregivers and children in 58 counties served by 36 coalitions across the state. Through these coalitions and partnerships, more than 6 million people have access to Safe Kids N.C. programming.

For more information, visit the Safe Kids NC Web site at either here or www.ncsafekids.org.

"Don't unwrap a holiday hazard," said Insurance Commissioner Goodwin. "Play it safe and smart by protecting kids from dangerous toys."