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A twinkle comes to children’s eyes as their faces light up on Christmas morning. When children are playing with their new toys, the last thing that comes to parents’ minds is the children ending up in emergency rooms. That is exactly what may happen if children receive toys on the “10 Worst Toys” list. 

WATCH (World Against Toys Causing Harm), a nonprofit organization, each year around this time nominates toys to the 10 Worst Toys list. The purpose of the list is to identify the types of toy hazards on the market so shoppers know what to avoid. 

 WATCH explains: 

“Although parents have rights to expect that toys they give to their children are safe, unsafe toys remain an ongoing problem. Due to poor design, manufacturing and marketing practices, there are toys available for purchase today with the potential to lead to serious injury and even death.” 

The 10 toys that made WATCH’s list this year are: 

1. Peppa Pig’s Muddy Puddles Family (considered hazardous by WATCH due to the potential for choking injuries)
2. KidsTime US/Appease Toys: Baby Children’s Elephant Pillow (potential for suffocation)
3. Slimeball Slinger (potential for eye injuries)
4. Banzai Bump n’ Bounce Body Bumpers (potential for impact injuries)
5. Nerf Rival: Apollo XV-700 Blaster (potential for eye injuries)
6. The Good Dinosaur: Galloping Butch (potential for puncture wound injuries)
7. Peppy Pups (potential for strangulation injuries)
8. Flying Heroes: Superman Launcher (potential for eye and facial injuries)
9. Baby Magic: Feed n’ Play Baby (potential for ingestion injuries)
10. Warcraft: Doomhammer (potential for blunt impact injuries) 

According to the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission), it received 11 reports of toy-related deaths occurring in 2015. Ten of these victims were younger than 12 years old. An estimated 254,200 toy-related injuries in 2015 were treated in U.S. emergency rooms. Lacerations accounted for 41 percent of the treated injuries. Non-motorized scooter injuries accounted for 25 percent of the treated injuries. 

Why aren’t unsafe toys recalled? 

Even though the CPSC may have issued recalls, shoppers may be unaware of the recalls. Recalled toys may not always be well publicized. In addition, even though a toy is not on a recall list, does not mean the toy is safe for children younger than the toy’s recommended age range. Should a toy be used inappropriately, it may be harmful to children. 

The Toy Industry Association recommends the following “smart tips” which shoppers should keep in mind when selecting toys: 

•  Check and follow age guidance and other safety information on packaging. (Age grading is based mostly on safety and not on how smart or dexterous a child may be.)
•  Avoid toys with small parts for children less than 3 years of age and those who mouth objects. This is among the most important things consumers can do to ensure safe play.
•  Inspect toys at the store, looking for sturdy parts and tightly secured joints.
•  Make sure that battery compartment-locking mechanisms are in place and that batteries are securely enclosed.
•  For children less than 18 months of age, avoid toys with strings, straps or cords longer than 12 inches.
•  Check to see that stuffed toys have age-appropriate features such as embroidered or secured eyes and noses for younger children, and seams that are reinforced to withstand an older child’s play.
•  Avoid toys with sharp points or rough edges, especially for younger children.
•  Ideally, you should always shop at a reputable retailer you know and trust, but if you are purchasing second-hand toys, inspect their condition and make sure you have the original packaging and instructions.
•  While toys must meet sound level standards that assure children’s hearing will not be damaged, listen to toys with noises before purchasing them to make sure they are appropriate for the child, and look for toys with volume control so you can adjust the sound to your preference. 

“Should a child in your family be injured as the result of a defective toy, please contact our child injuries attorney for assistance. Manufacturers and distributors of unsafe toys can be held financially responsible in Florida for the injuries and death caused by their defective products,” said Fort Myers Child Injury Attorney, Randall Spivey.

Fort Myers Child Injury Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.