US Consumer Product Safety Commission monitors dangerous consumer products and formulates standards and assists in recalls of dangerous products. In the last fiscal year Sept 2009 to Sept 2010 CPSC has recalled 44 toys as causing injuries or deaths. Through its 1750 subscribing Emergency Departments throughout the country electronically connected to the NEISSystem of CPSC 12 deaths related to dangerous toys.
This year’s WATCH 10 list of dangerous toys includes:
1. Classic Sport Super Bounce Pogo Stick: aluminum rivets on the pogo stick’s frame tubes can break and cause the support clamp to detach and release the spring, posing fall and laceration hazards to consumers. Made by Classic Sport Super Bounce Pogo Sticks: Sportcraft Ltd., of Budd Lake, N.J.
The pogo sticks are silver and blue with “Classic Sport” printed on the front. This recall involves pogo sticks manufactured in February 2010 that have Sportcraft identification number 4112777F19414-02/10 printed on a tracking label on the base of the foot pedals.
2. Play with Your Veggies by Edusafe: Fabric vegetable toys BUT the asparagus as sold contains wire that pokes through the fabric and wound child’s face, gums and eyes. The manufacturer instructs that consumers should return the asparagus and they will receive a redesigned asparagus without the wire.
3. Baby Play Zone Crawl ‘n Cruise;
Baby Play Zone Crawl ‘n Slide Arcade;
Baby Play Zone Gymnastics Play Wall;
Ocean Wonders Kick and Crawl Aquarium
These toys all feature inflatable balls that can detach. The balls suffocate infants and small children, and the valves from the balls fall out or can be chewed out and choke toddlers.
4. Buzz Magnets
Potential for choking and internal injuries – Price: $6.09
WATCH notes that this toy, which contains “polished, high-powered, oval shaped magnets,” can cause severe internal injuries if the magnets are swallowed by a child. The magnets were sold on Amazon.com.
5. Kung Fu Panda Sword of Heroes
Rigid impact injuries – Price: $7.98
This toy sword, based on the popular Kung Fu Panda movie, is made of rigid plastic and can cause serious injuries if it makes impact with a person’s face, or other areas, according to WATCH. The toy was made by Mattel and sold at Toys R Us.
6. Ballzillion Tug Boat Play Center
“injury or death” although it looks like a flotation device it is not an adequate flotation device and will drown kids; Price: $29.98
Despite the fact that this inflatable tugboat is advertised for indoor and outdoor use, and features a photo of a child standing on the toy, the packaging states that it is “not intended to be used as a flotation device” and advises that children not stand on the tugboat, adding that failure to follow the instructions could result in “injury or death.” It was sold at Toys R Us.
7. My First Mini Cycle
Danger of falls, head injuries, uncontrolled rides into traffic; Price: $14.97
WATCH notes that this plastic mini cycle, which is marketed for toddlers as young as 18 months old, sits so low to the ground that it can create a fall hazard if used outdoors. Has no brakes. Also, despite the fact that the toy instructions say that the toy requires the use of a helmet, the child pictured on the box is not wearing any safety gear. It was sold at Toys R Us.
8. Giant Starbuilder & Giant Stars
Plastic star shaped interlocking “building” toys Price: $25-35
These bright colorful star-shaped building blocks have knobs on the ends that break off and cause choking, suffocation.
9. Little People Wheelies Stand ‘n Play Rampway
Stand up pathways for small cars to travel down Price: $45
The little cars that are placed on the “rampway” to race down are the dangerous parts with this toy: the wheels fall off and are easy to chew, swallow and cause choking and suffocation.
10. Click Armband Bracelets, Klick-klick Balls & Bobo BallsBright tubes with balls on the ends click together, wrap around arms; Price: $2-5
The small brightly colored balls on the ends of the tubes easily break off and can be chewed off becoming choking and suffocation hazards because the material is thin.
Examples of some dangerous toys recalled in the past but that might show up on E-Bay are:
- TOYS given in Kid’s meals: such as “Pokemon Balls” (25 million) distributed in Burger King kids meals in November and December, 1999 were a suffocation hazard to children under 3 years of age if either half of the ball gets stuck on the child’s face, covering the nose and mouth. A 13-month-old girl and a 4- month-old boy reportedly suffocated when one-half of a Pokemon ball covered the nose and mouth. In addition, CPSC is aware of several non- suffocation incidents.
- And “KFC Tangled Treeples Toy” (425,000) distributed in KFC kids meals in June and July, 2000. suffocation hazard to children under 3 years of age. A 19-month-old girl reportedly had the Tangled Treeples container stuck over her face, causing her distress.
- “Fazoli’s Pasta Pals” (310,000) distributed in Fazoli’s kids meals from January to August, 2000. The container can fit over a child’s nose and mouthas a suffocation hazard to children under 3 years of age.
- Scooters: “Kent Kickin’ Mini-Scooters” (90,000) sold from May 2000 through September 2000 and “Kash ‘n Gold Racer X20 Scooters” (7,500) sold from August 2000 through September 2000. The Kent scooter handles can unexpectedly come out of the steering column, causing the rider to lose control, fall, and suffer injuries. Four children have suffered injuries, including broken arms, bruises, abrasions, and a cracked tooth. Call Kent at (800) 451-5368 for a replacement handlebar. The Kash ‘N Gold scooter has a plastic “T” joint between the handlebars that can break, causing the rider to lose control, fall, and suffer injuries. Two children suffered injuries. Return the Kash scooter to the store for a refund or a new scooter with a metal “T” joint.
- “Toy Basketball Nets” (11 million) sold between 1976 and 1998 can strangle children on loops or openings in nets that come unhooked from the rim or have knots that slide. CPSC is aware of more than 20 reports of children under 5 years old whose head or neck caught in the net of a toy basketball set, and an 18-month-old child died after becoming entangled in a partly unhooked net. People should remove and throw away nets that can unhook or have knots that slide. Call the manufacturer to get new nets that securely attach to the rim and do not have sliding knots.
- “Wiggle Waggle Caterpillar” (1 million) sold from 1998 through 2000 from Child Guidance presents a choking hazard because of small balls attached to these toys. CPSC has received one report of a 5-month-old girl choking to death after one of the small balls attached to the toy lodged in her throat. CPSC also received reports of two children who started to choke on the ball from this toy. Call Child Guidance at (877) 586-1006 for information about sending back the toy to receive another toy of similar value.
- Battery-powered toy riding vehicles (500,000) sold by Tek Nek Toys, Empire Industries and Fisher-Price from 1995 through 2000 depending on model. Battery charger can overheat presenting a fire hazard (Tek Nek, Empire), or foot pedals can stick in the “on” position and children can be injured when vehicle fails to stop or strikes other objects (Fisher- Price motorcycles).
- “Leapfrog Alphabet Pal” (500,000) electronic pull toys sold from June 1999 through November 2000 by Knowledge Kids Enterprises Inc. have a red plastic connector on the pull string that can be pulled apart, and the end pieces pose a choking hazard to young children. The company received nine reports of the red plastic connector detaching, but no injuries were reported. Cut the red plastic connector off of the strings on this toy. Call the company at (877) 477-6641.
- ZEBRA beebee gun with hard rubber pellets blinding
- EASY BAKE child’s oven used a high intensity light bulb and oven surface heated hot enough to burn flesh.
- Power Wheel Motorcycle up to 40 mph falls, impacts and burn injuries
As can be seen from both of these lists, the chief cause for dangers in toys is not the design, but the low-quality materials. When buying toys, examine the toy for the following three conditions that constitute the most frequent causes of injuries and death to children:
- Toxic paint or dye, especially lead;
- Small parts that easily break off;
- Weak areas in the design where the toy can break into sharp cutting edges.
Toys can be fun, entertaining and educational, but we want to inspect them carefully to make sure they’re not lethal.
For more information about dangerous toys and hazards to watch for go to www.cpsc.gov and to www.toysafety.org.