The gift-giving season is here, and for those with children young or old, there are all kinds of toys to be bought. But, not all toys are created equal, and certainly not to the same safety standards. In fact, children’s products are recalled more than twice a week. That means more than 100 products make their way into households each year, some of which consumers never even realize have been recalled! It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand why companies may not want to pay to advertise their mistakes, right?
Here is a quick look back at just some of the recalls from the past year as a reminder that what might seem “cool” or even educational, might not always be the safest product for children.
Self-Balancing Scooters/Hoverboards
Hazard: The lithium-ion battery packs in the self-balancing scooters/hoverboards can overheat, posing a risk of the products smoking, catching fire and/or exploding.
Cra-Z-Jewelz Gem Creations
Hazard: The “Slider Bracelet” in the jewelry-making kit contains high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health issues.
Land of Nod Octopus Rattle
Hazard: The fabric discs from the tentacles of the octopus can detach.
Sky Rover toys
Hazard: The USB charging cords sold with the toy can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers.
Wooden toy blocks and giraffes
Hazard: Parts of the wooden toy blocks and giraffes can become detached, resulting in small pieces that can pose a choking hazard to young children.
Moogy plush toys
Hazard: The red button on the Moogy plush toy’s left pocket and the snap button on the right pocket can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.
Plastic Trapeze rings
Hazard: The rings can unexpectedly crack or break during use, posing a fall hazard to children.
No one would ever intentionally harm a child but, unfortunately in a world of dollars and cents, manufacturers are not overly pressured to pay for advertising to announce recalls. Instead, they simply issue a press release that is likely to be overlooked by news outlets. This, of course, leaves some of the burden on consumers to be vigilant in watching for recall notices AND using a bit of common sense when it comes to recognizing potentially hazardous products.
If you have had a bad experience with a toy or feel that it is unsafe for your child, you are likely not alone and have the power to help ensure that it doesn’t happen again or to someone else by reporting incidents to both the manufacturer and to the Consumer Product Safety Commission by visiting www.SaferProducts.gov.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product, our law firm is also here to help you in any way possible with years of experience in handling these important cases.
About the Author: Frank Piscitelli
As a first-generation Italian in the United States, Frank is no stranger to tough times. His father’s family moved to Cleveland from Italy on May 22, 1958, with a few articles of clothing, some personal items and very little money. His family shared a home with three other related families but happily worked long hours doing jobs that involved physical labor, just to put food on the table. There was the promise of hope and opportunity, which was missing before his family moved here.
