Prevent Child Injuries This Holiday Season By Avoiding Dangerous and Defective Toys

Each year, World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. puts out its “10 Worst Toys” list as a warning to consumers for products to avoid when shopping for the holiday season. Toys that made this year’s list that pose specific child injury hazards include the:
• Twist ‘n Sort
• Fold and Go Trampoline
• Power Rangers Samurai Mega Blade
• Pulling Animal Duck
• Z-Curve Bow
• Sword Fighting Jack Sparrow
• “Gigan” Godzilla Figure
• Stepper “Low Rise” Stilts
• The Incredible Shrinky Dinks Maker
• School Bus by Schylling
The dangers involved vary, but include choking hazards, the risk of impact injuries, strangulation risks, electrical shock and burn dangers, and the risk of puncture wounds. Our toy defect lawyers want to remind you that when choosing what toys to buy, consider the age of the child that you are buying for and whether the product is appropriate for their abilities and safe for them to use.
Unfortunately, every year, there are children that end up sustaining serious injuries because they were playing with a dangerous or defective toy. Manufacturers, sellers, and distributors can be held liable for products liability in these instances. There is absolutely no reason why an unsafe toy should be made available in the marketplace.
In addition to its 10 worst list, WATCH wants shoppers to watch out for toys that:
• Don’t come with warnings, operating instructions, or age recommendations
• Have hair, fur, and other parts that can be ingested
• Include small pieces that can be easily swallowed (removable attachments, such as bells and beads fall under this category)
• Have pieces that shoot out, potentially posing a safety risk to the eyes
• Have pointed tips or sharp edges that can cut or pierce the skin
• Come with lengthy strings that may pose a strangulation hazard
• Are made with flammable materials
• Pose electrocution hazard
• Include toxic substances, such as lead or phthalates
The Pennsylvania Public Interest Research Group, which releases its annual Trouble in Toyland report each year, says that the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is responsible for recalling any unsafe or defective toys, doesn’t test all toys and not all of those that end up on store shelves meet the safety agency’s standards. If you believe there is a dangerous toy out there or your child was injured because of a toy, you should report it to the CPSC, as well as contact our child products liability law firmimmediately.
While tougher federal rules and new toy safeguards should mean there are less dangerous toys being sold now than ever before, one unsafe toy in the marketplace is one hazard too many. The CPSC says that last year, there were 17 child deaths involving toys–up from the 15 fatalities in 2009. Almost 50% of these deaths involved choking accidents. Also in 2010, 181,500 kids in the under 15 age group ended up in ERs because of injuries from toys.
2011 Dangerous Toy List, WATCH
Trouble in Toyland, PIRG
Consumer Product Safety Commission
More Blog Posts:
Swallowing High-Powered Magnets Can Be Deadly for Kids, Warns CPSC, Product Liability Law Blog, November 6, 2011
Little Tikes Recalls Another 1.7 Million Toy Workshop and Tool Sets Over Choking Hazard, Product Liability Law Blog, October 6, 2011
Choking, Entrapment, Fall, and Suffocation Hazards Prompt CPSC’s Latest Recalls Involving Children and Infant Products, Product Liability Law Blog, April 5, 2011