Nov 18, 2009 4:00 pm US/Eastern
W.A.T.C.H. Unveils Its 10 Worst Toys List For Kids
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
-
-
Other potential choking hazards include a Curious George baby book with a rattle that can break loose.
WBZ
The holidays are upon us and with that comes shopping for toys. In fact, the holiday season accounts for 65 percent of all toy sales. But some toys still pose a serious safety threat.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2008 there were at least 19 toy-related deaths in children under 15 and about 235,000 toy-related injuries treated in U.S. emergency rooms. And this week, a local non-profit organization made its annual announcement of the top 10 worst toys this year.
W.A.T.C.H., which stands for World Against Toys Causing Harm, has been identifying hazardous toys for the past 37 years. W.A.T.C.H. Director Joan Siff says, "There is no excuse for manufacturing a toy that has the capability of killing a child."
This year, they chose 10 toys that could potentially choke, strangle, impale or otherwise injure a young child.
First up: The Pucci Pups Maltese which has a long leash that poses a strangulation risk. Not only that, W.A.T.C.H. Director James Swartz says, "The hair is not rooted properly so it presents an ingestion hazard."
Other potential choking hazards include a Curious George baby book with a rattle that can break loose, the Just Kidz Junior Musical Instruments which uses a small drumstick that could break loose, and the Lots to Love Babies Mini Nursery which has a tiny shower head that could break off.
For projectile hazards, there's the Disney-Pixar Wall-E Foam Rocket Launcher and the Spy Gear Viper Blaster, which both shoot darts that could injure a child's eye.
And what about toys that could puncture a child? The Dark Night Batman figure has two rigid plastic ears. The Cat Rugged Mini contains a sharp metal spoke and the X-Men Slashin' Action Wolverine has a pointy claw at one end.
Lastly, the Moon Board Pogo Board uses an elastic cord that could roughly snap back and hit a child.
WBZ contacted the Toy Industry Association which represents more than 500 toy manufacturers and importers, and they released a statement which in part reads, "Consumers have every reason to trust the safety of the three billion toys sold in America each year. The toy industry works continuously to strengthen our rigorous testing and inspection procedures and ensure safe toys."
W.A.T.C.H. reminds parents that these 10 toys are just a representation of the many toys out there that could potentially harm a child. So before bringing a toy into your home, examine it carefully.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments