HOUSTON -- Texas Children's Hospital warned parents Thursday to be careful when buying holiday gifts for their children, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Many toys can pose dangers that parents may not realize. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that there were 18 toy-related deaths in 2007 and about 170,000 children were treated in emergency rooms for toy-related injuries. Most of the deaths involved choking on small toys, drowning or motor vehicle accidents during play.

The CPSC said there are five main hazards that parents should look out for:

Scooter, riding toys - Riding toys, skateboards and in-line skates go fast and falls could be deadly. Helmets and safety gear should be worn at all times and sized to fit.
Small balls, toys with small parts - Avoid small parts for children younger than the age of 3. They could cause a child to choke.
Balloons - Children younger than the age of 8 could choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons.
Magnets - Children younger than the age of 6 could suffer serious injury or die if magnets or pieces with magnets are swallowed.
Chargers, adapters - Charging batteries should be supervised by adults. Chargers and adapters could pose thermal burn hazards.

"You can use a toilet paper roll. If it (a toy or part of a toy) can fit within that, you know that it's a choking hazard," said Jamie Byrd of Texas Children's Hospital. "Children that are under the age of 3, they explore the world often through mouth, and so it's very easy for them to decide to put things within their mouth and that's what makes it a choking hazard for them."

Parents were also advised to take precautions once their children have opened their gifts:

Throw away plastic wrappings.

Keep toys for older children away from younger children.

Pay attention to instructions and warning on battery chargers.

For more information, visit the CPSC's Web site.

Related Information:

Click2Houston Holiday Section