Despite
efforts by regulators and comsumer rights groups, kids will receive
thousands of potentially hazardous toys this Christmas. The twentieth annual
toy safety survey was published on November 22 by the Public Interest
Research Group. According to research director and author of the report
Alison Cassady, "While we can report substantial progress after twenty years
of advocacy on behalf of America's littlest consumers, we are still finding
trouble in toyland."
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), sixteen
children died from toy related injuries in 2004. "Even one toy-related death
is too many, because these deaths are preventable," says Cassady.
The new report offers safety guidelines for buying toys for small children
as well as highlighting hazardous toys currently on store shelves. Too many
toys contain toxic chemicals, pose a choking hazard, are dangerously loud,
and or pose a risk of strangulation, says the report.
So, what can you do to avoid buying a potentially lethal toy?
Shoppers should examine all toys carefully for hidden dangers before they make a purchase this holiday season," Cassady says. Most manufacturers comply with the law, but parents and carers should not assume that all toys on store shelves are safe or properly labelled. Watch out for small balls and balloons when choosing for small children, and wires and leads that could strangle. Toys that make too much noise are not only annoying but could be damaging junior's hearing, so check the volume settings.
"Some toys pose insidious risks that are not entirely clear despite
regulatory activity, phthalates, for instance, are banned, so watch out for
warning labels if your child likes to put toys in the mouth or chew them.
Riding toys, whether motorised or not, also represent a risk and it's always
a good idea to make sure small children a supervised when using scooters and
such. The report's final warning offers advice for online shoppers - hazard
warnings are not always on prominent display when it comes to net shops, so
be vigilant. And, remember what the Italians used to say when Christmas was
but a twinkle in the advertiser's eye - Caveat emptor!