Novant trauma nurse speaks about toy safety ahead of Christmas

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - Kelly Moriarty, a veteran trauma nurse with Novant Health in Charlotte, recently spoke to WBTV about toy safety. With just two weeks until Christmas, shoppers still have time to buy gifts for loved ones.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 167,000 toy-related injuries landed kids aged 14 and younger in the emergency room last year.

Moriarty spoke to WBTV in a Zoom interview. She said choking is the number one reason kids end up hurt by toys.

“I think the main thing is to make sure you’re staying within the age recommendations for the toy. A lot of our injuries come from choking hazards,” said Moriarty.

She added that water beads can be a choking hazard, and parents need to be careful about small building blocks too.

“They’re great for older kids, but make sure you’re buying the larger blocks for younger kids because they put anything in their mouths and anywhere they can fit them,” she noted.

The trauma nurse said scooters also account for a lot of injuries.

“It’s really important to teach kids road rules. It’s still a vehicle. You still have to follow road rules and it’s really important to wear helmets and protect the brain,” she explained.

The trauma nurse also stressed the importance of having a dialogue about what is safe and what isn’t.

“Just having those conversations and helping them understand the importance of you know, doing things right,” she said.

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