When shopping for kids’ toys this year, here is a list of products that World Against Toys Causing Harm, a Boston-based consumer watchdog group, is placing on its list of “most dangerous toys” because of the injury risks that WATCH says the items pose:
• Spy Gear Viper Blaster: May cause eye injuries.
• Disney-Pixar Wall-E Foam Rocket Launcher. WATCH says the Toy is a choking hazard and may cause impact injuries and eye injuries.
• Cat “Rugged” Mini: Toy construction vehicle comes with metal spoke that may cause puncture wounds.
• Curious Baby Curious George Counting – My First Book of Numbers: Watch says the 5 beads embedded in the book can pose a choking hazard.
• Lots to Love Babies Mini Nursery: Comes with accessories that are a choking hazard risk.
• X-Men Origins Slashin’ Action Wolverine: The toy’s small parts make this a choking hazard.
• Pucci Pups Maltese: The puppy’s “hair” can be pose an aspiration hazard. Its long leash is a strangulation hazard.
• The Dark Knight Batman Figure: May cause possible penetration and blunt impact injuries.
• Just Kidz Junior Musical Instruments: The drum’s stick can cause choking injuries if placed in the mouth.
• Moon Board Pogo Board: WATCH warns about possible head injuries and impact injuries.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says that there were at least 19 toy-related fatalities in the US last year. Meantime, hospital emergency rooms treated 235,000 toy injuries. Despite the number of toy-related injuries and deaths that happen every year, WATCH director James Swartz noted toy makers continue to manufacture toys that pose similar dangers year after year.
Products liability-related accidents involving malfunctioning or defectively designed toys, nursery products, kids’ clothing, playground equipment, kids’ furniture, and other children’s products continue to happen. It can be devastating to find out that the toy that you bought for your son or daughter was the cause of injury or death. Toy manufacturers are supposed to test their toys and make sure that they aren’t dangerous for kids to use. Young kids especially may not realize that putting small objects in their mouths might cause them to choke.
10 most dangerous toys of 2009, MSNBC, Today
2009 “10 Worst Toys” List, WATCH
Related Web Resources:
Why Do We Need Healthy Toys?, HealthyStuff.org
Finding safe toys this holiday season, CNET
US Consumer Product Safety Commission
Our Boston products liability law firm represents families with Massachusetts injuries to minor cases against toy manufacturers.