December 13, 2004
Hello! "Making the right
toy selection for a child can be easy when parents are armed with
the right knowledge. Each year, more than 3 billion toys and games
are sold in the United States and more than half are purchased
during the holiday season. However, in 2002 alone, an estimated
165,200 children ages 14 and under were treated in hospital emergency
rooms for toy-related injuries. Although the majority of toys
are safe, some can become dangerous if used incorrectly or if
they end up with a child that is too young for a specific gift." Nobody wants to give a gift that causes one of these emergency room visits, and no one wants to spend the holidays in an ER. With that in mind, please note: "CPSC [U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission] has reports of 11 toy-related deaths
involving children under age 15 that occurred in 2003. The toys
involved in these fatal incidents were as follows... Victims of
the 11 fatal incidents ranged in age from 4 months to 9 years
old.... Ten deaths occurred where the child choked on or aspirated
a toy. The toys involved in these fatal incidents were 5 toy balls,
3 balloons, 1 game piece, and 1 toy bead. These children ranged
in age from 12 months to 9 years old.... There was 1 fatality
of a 4-month-old associated with positional asphyxia, involving
the closure of the child's airway by a stuffed toy.... In 2003
there were an estimated 206,500 toy-related injuries treated in
U.S. hospital emergency rooms. ... Seventy-five percent (155,400)
of the injuries for 2003 were to children under 15 years of age
and 34 percent (71,200) were to children under 5. Twenty-five
percent (51,100) of the injuries were to persons age 15 and up." With over 50,000 emergency room visits in 2003, people over the age of 15 need to be careful, as well. It is not just the younger children that get hurt (though the majority of the injuries were in this age range). Whether you are under the age of 15 or over, you will likely be buying toys this month (if you haven't already). Whether it is a gift for someone younger, or you are getting something for yourself, here are some things to keep in mind: "Follow Age Recommendations
When Selecting Toys. More specifically, "Whenever buying
a new toy, always read labels to make sure the toy is appropriate
for your child's age. You may think that because your child seems
mature for his or her age, he or she can handle a toy that was
meant for an older child. However, you're not doing your child
a favor by buying a toy for an advanced age group. Remember, the
age-appropriate level for a toy is determined by safety factors.
Always look for toys that appear to be well constructed and that
clearly include age recommendations on the labels. Toys made of
fabric should be labeled as flame resistant or flame retardant.
Stuffed toys should be washable. All toys should be painted with
lead-free paint, and art materials (including crayons) should
say nontoxic somewhere on their packaging. Also, if a new toy
is shrink-wrapped, be sure to immediately discard the plastic
wrapping after opening the toy for the first time. Small children,
especially toddlers, may look at plastic wrap as something new
and fun to play with and put it into their mouths and choke. Holiday
gift wrapping, ribbons, and bows can be hazards as well. Federal
law bans using small parts in new toys for children younger than
3, and those for kids younger than 8 are supposed to be free of
sharp glass and metal edges. But be aware that older toys (like
hand-me-downs or toys purchased used) may include sharp edges,
break into jagged pieces, or break into parts small enough to
be swallowed by a child." It's not just the new toys you buy in stores, it can also include those toys you find in grandma's closet as you visit over the holidays.... Or those toys that have been in the family for years... Or the toys your parents played with and passed down to you... Maybe even that great find at a second-hand store or garage sale... Or that great deal found online at an auction site... While an old toy may look safe, it may have hidden dangers that you would never think to check--since the dangers have not been an issue during your lifetime. Your parents may not even remember some of the issues from so long ago... "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Are you concerned about an old toy? While there is not a list of every toy that ever contained lead paint, the CPSC does have recall notices dating back over 30 years. "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
But what about today? What about current recalls? While toys are tested and expected to be safe when they are put on the market, there are times when the manufacturer hears of a possible problem. In the best cases, the toy is pulled from the shelves and refunds are offered after one concern and no injuries. "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE While choking is a major concern, it is not just baby toys that are affected by recalls and dangers. Toys for older kids have faster moving parts and sharper edges; these can cause injuries, as well... "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For a list of all toy
recalls on the CPSC website from 1974-current, you can visit: Toys aren't recalled if no one knows there is a problem with them. Do you have a concern about a toy (or another consumer product) to report? "By filling out
the form [found at the link] below and then submitting it, you
can report any injury or death involving consumer products to
[CPSC], or report an unsafe product to [CPSC].... You can also
report an incident or unsafe product by calling toll-free at 1-800-638-2772
or by sending an e-mail to info@cpsc.gov Questions of the Week: Please email me with any ideas or suggestions. I look forward to reading what you have to say. Cindy |
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