For children, the holidays are a magical time and in most families, gifts are a major part of the season. When family and friends buy toys for the holidays, they of course expect their gifts to be safe. Unfortunately, each year child injuries in Hollywood and other Florida cities are caused by dangerous toys.
Each year, product liability claims are launched in Hollywood and across the state because customers are injured by poorly designed or defectively manufactured products. When those products are unsafe toys, Hollywood families can be especially devastated. No child should be injured by a toy, but each year, children suffer burns, choking, cuts, lacerations, fractures, facial injuries, and other serious injuries due to unsafe toys. Toy manufacturers have an obligation to provide well-designed toys that are safe for children, but in some cases toys are poorly designed or mistakes are made in the manufacturing process that cause unsafe toys to reach store shelves.
To keep the children on your gift-giving list safe this year, be sure to follow these tips when going shopping:
1) Pay special attention to choking hazards. According to The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in 2012 over 250,000 children across the country needed emergency care due to toy-related injuries. The most common injury suffered was choking. When selecting toys, make sure that any small magnets in the toy cannot fall out. On stuffed toys, make sure that small parts such as eyes are well attached.
2) Avoid toys that can cause pinching. Toys with movable parts can pinch a child’s fingers if there is enough space for the child to insert their fingers.
3) Do not buy used toys. While some toys may be a family tradition, passed down from generation to generation, older toys may not have been made to today’s safety standards. Buying unused, new toys may be safer. Keep family keepsakes as heirlooms and provider newer toys for playtime.
4) Watch out for toys with sharp parts. Even some toys that seem safe may have sharp edges that can cause cuts. Be especially wary about airplane wings, toy weapons and swords, and toy vehicles, as these can have dangerously sharp edges.
5) Read about toy safety and toy recalls before you shop. You can check to see which toys have been recalled recently and which toys have good safety ratings online. Once you get to the store, this information can help you shop.
6) Avoid toys with long cords or strings if the gift recipient is very young. Very young children can choke on long strings or cords and toys with long strings also pose a risk of strangulation. Long ribbons, cords, strings, and loops can become tangled around a young child’s throat.
7) When buying fabric toys or toddler’s clothing, look for anti-flammable materials. Make sure that fabric items are marked with a Underwriters Laboratory ( UL) listing.
8) Consider age when buying gifts. A gift or toy that is very appropriate for an older child can pose a fatal risk for a toddler. Always review safety information printed on toys and be sure to buy toys intended for the age range of the gift recipient.
Has your child been injured by a dangerous toy or unsafe product? Contact Flaxman Law Group to arrange a free accident consultation to review your case.