Christmas is a special time of year for children and their parents. While the season is one of joy for many, most adults’ enjoyment of Christmas simply cannot compare to the excitement of children in the face of lights, cookies, music and – of course – presents.
And many parents experience their own kind of joy when they watch their children tear into presents or throwing themselves into playing with their new toys.
However, inside some of those brightly wrapped boxes and under those bows, heartbreak can sometimes lurk.
Every year, toys and other children’s products are recalled due to toxicity, unsafe design, choking hazards and more. This year when buying presents for the children in your life, be sure that the gifts you give are age appropriate and safe.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission offers a page on their website listing hazardous toy recalls, which is a good resource for any concerned parent. Also, local news programs often run stories about potentially dangerous toys. The internet is a vast and valuable tool for those who know how to use it.
Recently recalled toys include a toy dart gun set by OKK Trading which led to an asphyxiated child after it became lodged in the child’s throat, a toy truck set called Super Rigs Play Sets which violated lead paint standards, and the Evenflo ExerSaucer® 1-2-3 Tea for Me™ Activity Learning Centers, which was recalled because of choking hazards.
The OKK Trading dart gun has already caused the death of one 8 year old boy in Texas, when he was chewing on it and inadvertently inhaled and swallowed it.
Evenflo ExerSaucer® 1-2-3 Tea for Me™ has not yet caused any reported injuries, but there have been 11 reports of pieces detaching and becoming dangerous choking hazards.
Despite recalls, dangerous toys still often make it onto shelves, and in many cases the manufacturers are well aware of the product’s flaws. A parent cannot trust these companies to look out for the best interests of their children.
The CPSC also offers some advice on toy safety. This sort of advice is useful and available all year, but in this time of giving, it becomes especially relevant.
• Choose toys carefully, respecting the child’s age, interests and skill levels.
• Look for quality design and construction in toys for children of all ages.
• Make sure that all instructions and directions are clear, both to you and your children.
• Discard of plastic and other dangerous packaging immediately.
• Read labels – including age recommendations, warnings and safety labels, and whether or not fabric or dolls are made of washable or hygienic materials.
• Be aware that not all toys are for all children; keep toys for older children out of reach of younger children.
• Toys for infants such as rattles should always be large enough that swallowing them is impossible.
With responsible action, everyone can make this Christmas a safe one for the children who enjoy it.
If your child has been injured as the result of a faulty product, contact a Georgia accident lawyer as soon as possible. Call MLN Law at 404-531-9700 to schedule your free consultation.