Tips for Toy Safety 2006 - Public Interest Network

REPORT A DANGEROUS TOYThe Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)has the authority to recall dangerous toys andproducts from the market. If you think a toy orproduct is hazardous, contact the CPSC and submita report by:Phone: 1-800-638-2772Web: http://www.cpsc.gov/incident.htmlEmail: info@cpsc.govFIND OUT MORE or GET INVOLVEDVisit www.ToySafety.net for more information ontoy safety and to sign up for e-mail alerts.~ TIPS FOR ALL PARENTS ~Buy children accessories for safety.Toys such as bicycles, scooters, skateboardsand inline skates are safer when childrenwear protective gear. If you plan to give anyof these toys as gifts, make them safer byalso giving a helmet, knee pads, elbow padsand wrist guards.Stay informed of recalls.The Consumer Product Safety Commissionrecalls numerous toys and children’s productseach year. Check www.recalls.gov for anarchive of old recalls and to sign up to receiveemail alerts of new recalls.FOR COPIES OF THIS PAMPHLETContact U.S. PIRG at the address below to obtaincopies of these toy tips for your daycare, doctor’soffice, community center or toy store or visit ourwebsite at www.ToySafety.net.218 D Street SE , Washington, DC 20003202-546-9707 (ph)www.uspirg.orgPhoto credits: iStockPhoto (child with balloons); AnaAbejon/iStockPhoto (baby with rubber duck); andMonika Adamczyk/iStockPhoto (child with blocks).www.toysafety.netTips for ToySafety◊ ◊ ◊Thousands of toys are on the market, eachpromising to educate or entertain our children.Unfortunately, not every toy is safe. Toy buyerscan help protect children from injury by beingcareful, vigilant shoppers. U.S. PIRG’s Tips forToy Safety are designed to help parents,grandparents, care givers and toy buyers avoidthe most common hazards in toys.

~ CHOKING HAZARDS ~Avoid choking hazards. Do not buy smalltoys or toys with small parts for childrenunder 3.Choking is the most common cause of toyrelateddeaths. According to the ConsumerProduct Safety Commission (CPSC), at leastnine children aspirated or choked to death in2005 on balloons, toys, or toy parts.Read and heed warning labels.Toys with small parts intended for childrenbetween 3 and 6 are required by law to includean explicit choke hazard warning.Never give young children small balls orballoons.Small balls, balloons and pieces of broken balloonsare particularly dangerous, as they cancompletely block a child’s airway.• Make sure balls forchildren under 6 yearsold are more than 1.75inches in diameter.• Never give latex balloonsto children youngerthan 8 years old. Mylarballoons are a safer alternative.MAGNETIC TOYSPowerful magnets used in most magneticbuilding toys and magnetic jewelry pose specialhazards. If a child swallows more than onemagnet, they can attract each other in thebody and cause life-threatening complications.• Keep magnetic toys away from childrenunder six.• If a child swallows more than one magnet,seek immediate medical attention.NOISEChildren’s ears are sensitive. To protect childrenfrom loud toys:• If a toy seems too loud for your ears, it isprobably too loud for a child.• Take the batteries out of loud toys orcover the speakers with tape.STRANGULATION HAZARDS• Keep mobiles out of the reach of children incribs and remove them before the baby isfive months old or can push herself up.• Remove knobs or beads from cords longerthan one foot to prevent the cords fromtangling into a dangerous loop.www.ToySafety.netTOXIC CHEMICALSSome children’s toys and cosmetics maycontain toxic chemicals.• Avoid toys made of PVC plastic; choosewooden or cloth toys instead.• Read the labels of play cosmetics andavoid products with xylene, toluene, ordibutyl phthalate.LEADCPSC and children’s health groups have foundhigh levels of lead in some children’s jewelry.Children exposed to lead can sufferdevelopmental delays or even death.• To test a piece of jewelry for lead, use ahome lead tester available at thehardware store.• Tell your children not to put their jewelryin their mouths.U.S. Public Interest Research Group