Now that the Holiday shopping season is soon upon us, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSSC) has a list of toys that gift buyers should take note of because of safety concerns.
In 2007, the CPSC had reports of 18 toy-related deaths and they estimate that there were 170,000 hospital emergency room visits due to toy related injuries suffered by children under the age of 15.
Top 5 toy hazards:
- scooters and riding toys — if you purchase a scooter or a riding toy including skateboards and in-line skates, be sure they are age appropriate and that protective gear such as helmets and padding are also provided.
- small balls and toys with small parts — these types of toys can be a hazard to children, especially under the age of 3 because they may choke on them. Avoid purchasing small balls and toys with small parts for children under the age of 5.
- balloons — balloons can be especially dangerous to children under the age of 8. Children can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons.
- magnets — children under the age of 6 should not play with magnets. When swallowed, they can cause severe injury and even death.
- battery chargers and adapters — may cause burn hazards to small children
–Adapted from www.cpsc.gov
Parents can sign-up to have toy re-call notices e-mailed to them. Visit https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx
This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney Blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have been severely injured and the families of those killed due to dangerous products or the negligence of others.
If your child has suffered a severe toy-related injury, contact The Farber Law Group to insure your rights are protected.