With exploding hover boards and other dangerous and defective toys in the news, parents across the nation are likely a little worried about choosing safe toys for their children this holiday season. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has some important tips for keeping children safe around new toys this holiday season. Thankfully, the CPSC has reported a decline in toy recalls over the past few years. This year, 25 toys have been recalled. In 2008, 172 toys were recalled. Although toy recalls have declined, the CPSC continues to find dangerous toys at U.S. ports.
Toy-Related Injuries
Some of the imported toys intercepted contained dangerous levels of lead and phthalates. A report from 2014 found an estimated 183,800 toy-related injuries and 11 deaths. It’s important to note that although those injuries and deaths occurred in the presence of certain toys, the toys may not necessarily have been the cause. Listed below are the CPSC’s top three tips for choosing safe toys this holiday season.
Holiday Toy Shopping Tips
1. Always choose age-appropriate toys. For small children, under the age of three, avoid toys with small parts that could cause choking.
2. When shopping for scooters or other riding toys, always ensure helmets and other types of safety gear are properly fitted and worn at all times. Make sure children aren’t riding or playing in the street or on roadways.
3. Whether magnet sets are marketed for children or adults, ensure all parts and play sets with small magnets are kept away from small children.
Defective and Dangerous Toys
Even when parents do their best to pick safe age-appropriate toys for their children, injuries can still occur, especially if toys are faulty or dangerous. Defective toys put the lives of children at risk. If you suspect a defective toy was responsible for your child’s injury, you need to contact the toy’s manufacturer, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and a product liability lawyer as soon as possible.
If your child has been injured due to a defective or faulty product this holiday season, contact the skilled and proven lawyers at Alexander Law Group, LLP at 888.777.1776 for a free case consultation.
