Parents Need to Be Aware of Hazardous Toys This Christmas

Toy Safety Standards

A November 2015 Post and Courier article on toy safety relays a list of potentially dangerous toys, which is distributed by the consumer watch group World Against Toys Causing Harm (WATCH). The group listed the ’10 Most Dangerous Toys of Christmas’ amidst strong objections from the Toy Industry Association, which argues that WATCH does not have any actual facts or testing to back their claims, but simply reports toys it suspects of being dangerous, a claim that WATCH acknowledges. The toy industry claims that every toy on the market has to adhere to stringent U.S. safety standards, and any warning about potential dangers with the toy must be posted on the packaging.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), any toy made for children under 12 must undergo third-party testing and conform to federal toy safety standards before it can be sold in the U.S. Toy safety laws are complex, and there is no ‘one size fits all’ standard that makes a toy safe or unsafe. Some of the ways toys are tested are in terms of age appropriateness, toy characteristics, and the way it could be potentially used. Testing may include the types of material used, the presence of any protruding edges, the possibility that pieces of the toy could come off and create a choking hazard, and the possibility that the child could get a body part stuck in the toy.

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Tips For Toy Safety

While toys are extensively tested, they still can result in injury to your child. The CPSC estimates that over 180,000 children are treated in emergency rooms each year as the result of toy related injuries. Play it safe this holiday season by following these tips on picking safe toys for your child:

• Read packages and make sure toys are age appropriate
• Avoid cheaply made toys that are less likely to adhere to safety standards
• Be careful of toys with magnets, which could end up presenting a choking hazard
• Do not buy children’s metal costume jewelry, which may have unsafe levels of lead
• When purchasing sports and recreational equipment such as rollerblades, scooters, and bicycles, be sure and get the proper to safety equipment to go with your gift.

Contact an Experienced Attorney

If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a defective product, contact Anastopoulo Law Firm. Our experienced South Carolina personal injury attorneys may be able to help you hold responsible parties accountable for your injuries do that you can get the compensation you deserve. We are here to help protect your rights so give us a call today.