Christmas morning is filled with joy in many households as children open up toys and other gifts from Santa. But what parents don’t know is some of those toys under the tree may be toxic and dangerous for children. Public interest groups say toy hazards are extremely common and come in a variety of shapes and forms.
The U.S. Public Interest Research Group released its 27th annual Trouble in Toyland survey last month and found that children can be injured from small parts that pose choking risks, strangled by cords on pull toys, lacerated by sharp edges, and exposed to toxic chemicals.
Among the survey’s findings:
— Lead exposure from toys remains a serious risk to the brains of young children and “can cause permanent mental and developmental impairments.”
— Magnet toys pose problems, especially if the magnets are swallowed. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has estimated there were 1,700 emergency room cases nationwide between 2009 and 2011 involving the ingestion of high-power magnets, nearly three-quarters of them in children between 4 and 12.
— Two toys — a car driving wheel on a console and a toy guitar — exceed the recommended limit for continuous exposure to noise above 65 decibels. Researchers say one in five U.S. children will have some degree of hearing loss by the time they reach the age of 12.
— Several toys contain small parts having what the organization says is improper labeling and “might be mistakenly purchased for children under 3.” Choking on small toy parts such as marbles and balloons has resulted in hundreds of deaths over the past two decades.
Parents, please check all of your childrens’ toys carefully and consult government toy recalls for complete, up-to-date information on recalled products and dangerous toys.
Few things are more frightening than seeing a child get hurt by a toy. If you or a loved one has become injured by using a product that was recalled or otherwise, please contact experienced San Diego liability lawyer Steven A. Elia. The Elia Law Firm, APC will help you understand your rights and options and will fight to hold negligent parties accountable for their actions.
- Breakthrough Spinal Cord Injury Research at UC San Diego - August 26, 2021
- What to Do After a San Diego Bicycle Accident - March 4, 2020
- Who Is at Fault in a Motorcycle Lane Splitting Accident in California? - February 28, 2016
