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by Linda Miller Atkinson Atkinson Petruska Kozma Hart & Couture publish in December the “10 Worst Toys” List for information to parents. We base our list on the work of two national organizations that investigate toys all year: the Consumer Product Safety Commission and World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. Their primary sources of data are the National Electronic Information Surveillance System that records injury data from 1700 ERs across the US, and the Centers for Disease Control. Using these investigations trial lawyers have prevented terrible injuries and saved lives by taking many dangerous toys off the market, and by regulations that prevent dangerous toys from being sold, or warn parents of hazards of some toys. The 10 most dangerous toys for 2011 as determined by W.A.T.C.H. described below. For more information, go to www.toysafety.org. |
- Incredible Shrinky-dinks maker $29.99 made by Big Time Toys LLC uses significant electricity and is not adequately insulated, causes deadly shock, cannot be left plugged in.
- Sword fighting Jack Sparrow $59.98 made by Jakks Pacific action figure with a sharp rigid sword activated by pressing a lever difficult to control can take out an eye inadvertently
- Gigan Godzilla $22.00 by Bandai action figure with “fins” and “claws” are rigid sharp protrusions that cause punctures, lacerations and potential eye and mouth injuries
- Twist n’ Sort$13.35 by Guidecraft looks benigh but 3 of the 4 posts have small detachable rings that are attractive choking hazards for small children
- Power Rangers Samurai Mega Blade $26.99 Bandai available at Toys R Us, KMart.com, and Walmart.com – the toy operates a release that flips-open a rigid plastic sword that extends 2 feet and can cause serious facial or other impact injuries.
- Fold and Go Trampoline $99.99 The Original Toy Company: The instructions tell users to only do “controlled bounces.” Yet this is still a trampoline with the unguarded hazard of head and neck injuries and without any of the protections provided with larger trampolines.
- Pulling Animal Duck $29.99 Haba This pull-toy duck’s cord is 33 inches long, a serious strangulation hazard for children 12 months and older. Toy Industry standards limit strings on crib and playpen toys to 12 inches.
- School Bus $4 Schylling The rubber tires easily come off the plastic wheels and are small enough to choke children.
- Z-Curve Bow $25.05 Zing Toys Inc. A bow and arrow set that shoots foam arrows with enough force to travel 125 feet injuring eyes of unsuspecting bystanders or playmates
- Stepper ‘Low Rise” Stilts $10.99 JJI Toys These plastic imitations of the coffee can stilts we used to make are twice as tall and has no warnings or instructions or protective pads. It invites children, as young as five years old, to ‘[j]ust step on the platform, pull the ropes up tight, and begin to walk around’ while balancing on top of the cups.” Height and stability are sufficient to cause head, face and impact injuries without protection.