Watch Out for Dangerous and Defective Toys This Christmas
With the Christmas shopping season in full swing, doctors are warning the public to look out for dangerous and defective products, which may have been recalled but still remain on store shelves, especially in second-hand stores. According to a news report in Consumeraffairs.com, a recent safety alert issued by doctors at the Loyola University Health System in Chicago cautions consumers about some otherwise "safe" toys that can still pose dangers to children. Parents still need to be cautious about what toys they buy for their children and determine if the toys have been recalled for causing lead poisoning or choking, and other severe personal injuries, or even, deaths.
Toy-related Injuries
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2008 alone, 235,300 injuries were treated in United States emergency rooms as a result of dangerous or defective toys and 19 children, 15 years or younger, died as a result of toy-related personal injuries. Doctors say a majority of the injuries were caused as a result of cuts, contusions and injuries to the face and head. It could be due to balloons, toys with small parts or even those such as scooters or shoes with wheels that could cause deadly fall injuries.
Do Your Research Before you Buy a Toy
Parents can take several steps to make sure that this does not happen to their children. The first step would be to read the label and give the toy a thorough inspection, make sure it is well-constructed and that there are no small parts that could cause a choking hazard. Doctors also warn that children younger than 8 years of age should never be given any toys containing tiny magnets that can come off easily and be ingested by children.
These magnets can apparently cause tears in the intestines and prove fatal. It's particularly dangerous because there are no major symptoms except for a mild stomach ache and are not diagnosed until it is too late. Parents should also watch out for bright colored toys that may contain high lead levels. Lead poisoning could cause brain injuries among young children who ingest the paint by putting the toys in their mouth. More information about dangerous toys and recent recalls can be found on CPSC's Web site: www.cpsc.gov.
We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.
