Nov. 13, 2020 -- As the vacations close to, the hunt for presents begins. But not all kids’s toys have made the great checklist -- amongst this yr’s most harmful gadgets are a toolset with small components, a toy with excessive noise ranges, and high-powered magnets, in accordance with a brand new watchdog report.
The U.S. Public Interest Research Group has launched its 35th annual “Trouble in Toyland” report that highlights hazardous kids’s toys. The 2020 report discovered a number of kinds of toys that must be averted -- with recalled toys topping the checklist. And as with most issues, COVID-19 has solely elevated the risks of those toys, the report says. With dad and mom juggling digital studying, pandemic difficulties, and their very own jobs, monitoring children is tougher than ever.
“Parents and caregivers are overwhelmed,” Grace Brombach, a shopper watchdog affiliate with the analysis group, stated throughout a Thursday webinar. “Older siblings are spending more time indoors with younger siblings. Toys meant for older children could end up in the hands of younger children.”
For instance, the researchers discovered a Vtech Drill & Learn Toolbox11 -- labeled for youngsters 2 to five years outdated -- that comprises bolts which can be 1.75 inches lengthy by .75 inches large at their widest level. According to a Consumer Product Safety Commission report, three kids died from choking or aspirating on toy nails or pegs in 2006, although they weren't from that particular toolset. The toy’s makers didn't reply to a request for remark.
Experts on the webinar panel advisable utilizing the “toilet paper roll test” -- something that may simply match inside a bathroom paper roll will not be protected for youngsters beneath 3 years outdated.
Panelist Kate Cronan, MD, an emergency medication pediatrician at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Delaware, pressured the risks of preserving small objects round younger kids. She advised the story of a 2-year-old who was just lately rushed to her hospital’s emergency division after swallowing a watch from a child doll. She recovered, however the eye needed to be surgically faraway from her esophagus.
“It’s nothing brand new, but it’s really important we know these kinds of things are happening,” she stated.
The report additionally warns towards flocked animals -- fuzzy animal figures -- like the favored Calico Critters, which include equipment and are labeled for teenagers ages 3 years and older. According to the report, these toys and their equipment are suspected within the dying of a kid in New Mexico and the near-death of a boy in Utah. Both kids have been beneath 3 years outdated and reportedly choked on the identical pacifier accent.
The report recommends avoiding these merchandise, particularly if there are youthful kids in the home. But an announcement from the toy’s makers stated: “All Calico Critters products meet or exceed all US safety standards. We are confident that Calico Critters are safe and do not pose a risk to children older than the recommended age on packaging.”
Some merchandise -- like high-powered magnets -- may cause injury if swallowed. In May, a 9-year-old swallowed three high-powered magnets made by Zen Magnets LLC, the Consumer Product Safety Commission says. Every week later, she wanted emergency surgical procedure after the swallowed magnets brought on intense abdomen ache.
According to an announcement from Zen Magnets, there's a “dangerous impression that high-powered magnets are kids’ toys (they most certainly are not kids’ toys and should never be marketed as such).” Zen is engaged on new requirements that can require child-resistant packaging and robust warnings on all units of high-powered leisure magnets, the assertion says.
In addition to choking and swallowing hazards, the report mentioned the risks of dangerously loud toys. Researchers discovered a firetruck on Amazon that performs sounds of 104 decibels at its highest level, the report says. According to the World Health Organization, publicity to noise of 100 decibels for longer than quarter-hour can injury listening to. An announcement from the compliance liaison for Zetz Brands, the maker of the truck, says the corporate spends hundreds of {dollars} on analysis and improvement for its merchandise to make sure their security.
The assertion says “the subject matter has been tested for and approved to be in compliance with the CPCS safety requirements.”
But Brombach stated “a toy that loud, especially when held close to a kid’s ear, can cause serious damage.” She recommends turning down the amount on loud toys if attainable, eradicating batteries, or placing tape over the speaker to muffle noise.
The report additionally warns towards recalled toys which can be offered secondhand. Brombach stated a number of pages of recalled toys have been uncovered throughout an eBay search. To keep away from gifting a recalled product, patrons ought to pay attention to the 10 toys recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission over the previous yr. A search of saferproducts.gov additionally will disclose if a toy has been recalled.
Cronan stated the concern of COVID-19 could deter folks from taking their kids to the emergency division after a harmful toy incident that will not appear pressing in the meanwhile. She strongly encourages dad and mom and caregivers to name a health care provider earlier than deciding to remain house, so an expert can assess whether or not a visit to the hospital is required.
“If something happens, they should call the doctor right away,” Cronan stated. “I just want parents to feel they can get help.”
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