on health Safe Play For Children With Spina Bifida (NAPSA)—During the holiday season or any gift-giving occasion, it is important to navigate the array of toys on the market very carefully—and ask for assistance in selecting latex-free toys for children with spinabifida. For children with a commonbirth defect, many toys can trigger a dangerous allergy. More than 70,000 Americans have spina bifida, and an addi- tional 1,400 children are born with the condition each year. Children with spina bifida often develop serious latex allergies. This is due to frequent exposure to medical devices during ongoing surgeries— andreactions to the natural rubber can sometimes be deadly. Finding latex-free toys for little ones with spina bifida can be a challenge; a variety of playthings, includingsilly string, water toys, balloons, bicycle handgrips and many items of clothing contain latex. Womencan reducetheir risk of having a child with spinabifida by taking the B vitamin folic acid every day. To learn more, call the Spina Bifida Association of America at 1-800-621-3141 or visit www.sbaa.org.
