As Eid al‑Fitr draws near, the General Directorate of Civil Protection has issued a warning about a range of risks, particularly for children, as well as increased dangers on the roads during this festive period. This was stated in an official Civil Protection communiqué released this Tuesday, which calls on families and drivers to redouble their vigilance to prevent any accidents.
In this festive context, the General Directorate urges drivers to strictly observe good‑driving rules, especially “compliance with the Highway Code,” “speed limits,” and “avoiding hazardous maneuvers,” in order to reduce the risk of traffic accidents. Yet, while every year this holy period sees many tragedies and incidents, it is above all the accidents involving children that draw particular concern from Civil Protection. According to the communiqué, toys—especially those powered by batteries, those emitting sounds, or soft‑toy plushes—are often behind several incidents recorded during the holiday, causing cases of suffocation, serious injuries such as cuts, strangulation, and even fires and burns. In light of these hazards, Civil Protection urges citizens, and parents in particular, to exercise maximum caution when choosing toys, warning that they can be dangerous if they do not comply with safety standards.
The statement also stresses the importance of selecting toys appropriate to the child’s age, noting that worn‑out toys may contain small parts or have defects that can pose a danger to the youngest. Parents are therefore advised to take the time to carefully read age recommendations, safety warnings, usage instructions, and assembly directions provided with each toy.
Civil Protection further recommends that children be supervised at all times while they play, and that they be shown how to use their toys safely and correctly. It also emphasizes the need to remove and promptly discard all toy packaging, including plastic bags and films, foam, pins, and fasteners, which can create risks of suffocation or strangulation.
According to the same source, toys, especially plush or soft‑material items, should be kept well away from heat sources to avoid any fire risk that could lead to injuries or material damage. “It is also essential to regularly check the condition of toys to ensure they pose no danger, such as loose or broken parts,” the statement noted, adding that damaged or fragile toys should either be repaired or disposed of.
Civil Protection points out that young children, particularly those under three years old, are prone to putting objects into their mouths and are therefore especially vulnerable to choking on small toys, balls, marbles, or unfastened or broken parts, all of which must be kept out of their reach. In this regard, the body strongly recommends making sure that toys have neither sharp points nor sharp edges that could cause cuts, favoring instead sturdy, high‑quality items that clearly display the manufacturer’s or importer’s contact details.