APS Encourages Holiday Toy Safety

December 17, 2008

Holiday shopping is in full swing. With the emphasis being on finding the perfect gift for everyone on the list, it's also important to be mindful of safety -- especially when it comes to the children in our lives.

In 2007 alone, 18 children died and more than 170,000 were injured as a result of toy-related incidents, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Many of these injuries came as a result of contact with electricity.

"A single contact with electricity can result in serious injury or even death." said APS Public Safety consultant Randy Boles. "We ask that parents to pay special attention to electrical safety when choosing gifts for their children."

To help make this the safest holiday season possible, APS offers several tips to help keep children safe during the holidays:

• When shopping for toys, especially those that use electricity, look for markings that indicate the product has been tested for safety by an independent, third-party safety and certification organization.
  
  
• Pay close attention to the recommended age designation on the packaging.
  
  
• Before operating any new toy or electrical device, read the manufacturer's manual, and make sure your child understands how to properly operate the product. Closely examine the toy to make sure there are no exposed wires.
  
  
• Avoid giving gifts to children younger than 10 that need to be plugged in. Instead, look for toys that are battery-operated. Make sure the charging of any toys or plugging in of cords is supervised by an adult.
  
  
• Never overload an electrical receptacle with extension cords or three-way adapters. A power strip can help safely plug multiple devices into a single receptacle.
  
  
• Keep items that use electricity away from water, unless that is what the toy was designed for. Electricity and water do not mix.
  
  
• Complete and return any product warranty information. This step will help the manufacturer notify you in the event of a safety recall.

APS, Arizona's largest and longest-serving electricity utility, serves about 1.1 million customers in 11 of the state's 15 counties. In 2008, APS won its second Edison Award in recognition of innovative leadership and operational excellence in the electric industry. Given annually by the Edison Electric Institute, the Edison Award is considered the industry's most prestigious honor. With headquarters in Phoenix, APS is the principal subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (NYSE: PNW)

Damon Gross
(602) 250-2269