Report warns parents of toy dangers
By Christine Rhee
Daily Forty-Niner
The toys that may bring smiles to the faces
of children may also be deadly, according to a report released by the California
Public Interest Research Group.
Based on data collected from the Children's
Protection Safety Act, the research group found that at least 13 children
died in1997 playing with toys. The leading cause of child deaths was choking
on toys, said Maureen Williams, the director of marketing at Miller Children's
Hospital.
In addition, approximately 141,300 individuals
were admitted to hospital emergency rooms with injuries resulting from
toys.
"The parents should really avoid balloons
because when a child plays with a balloon and it pops, his instinctive
reaction is to open his mouth," Williams said.
She said it is extremely difficult to remove
the balloon once it gets caught in a child's throat.
Severe amounts of toxic chemicals were
found on many teething toys made for children under age 3, the research
group's report said. Hazardous chemicals called phthalates were also detected
on many soft plastic toys.
In addition, toys containing small parts
and thin cords may choke or strangle kids, while marbles and other types
of small objects may also be fatal if they are swallowed by children.
In 1980, Congress required toy industries
to produce toys with large parts and to enlarge danger warnings on products.
Parents should avoid buying toys with parts that are smaller than their
child's fist or that can fit through a cardboard toilet paper roll, the
report said. |
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