Don’t Believe the Hype About “Dangerous” Christmas Toys
Welcome To The Season Of Bogus Scare Stories
” Of course, if it was just a few trial lawyers practicing the sky-is-falling business, the whole idea of super-dangerous toys wouldn’t have gone so viral. But the U.S. Public Interest Research Group also publishes an annual “Trouble in Toyland” survey—this year in its 27th iteration—making it seem like anyone who thinks toys are pretty safe is a soon-to-be-sorry sap.
Just like W.A.T.C.H., the survey warns about string: “Drawstrings on children’s clothing lead to deaths and injuries when they catch on playground equipment, bus doors or cribs.” How big a threat do drawstrings pose? “From January 1985 through June 1997, the CSPC [Consumer Product Safety Commission] received reports of 21 deaths,” says the report. That’s 21 deaths over the course of 12 years. Still, “CSPC recommends parents remove drawstrings from all children’s upper outerwear sized 2T to 12 and buy clothing with alternative closures, like snaps, buttons and Velcro.”
Let me repeat that recommendation: Remove the drawstrings on all children’s clothes up to age 12.”
Related articles
- YMI “Hoodies” Sold at dd’s Recalled For Strangulation Hazard (todayinchildsafety.com)
- Bon-Ton fined $450,000 for drawstring error (wfmz.com)
- 27th annual survey finds dangerous toys on store shelves (cnn.com)
- Playground Safety for Your Children (mylittlemr.com)
- Report warns of dangerous toys on store shelves (bangordailynews.com)
- Burlington Settles Lawsuit Over Unsafe Clothes (todayinchildsafety.com)
