Some kids and teens have already written down their holiday wish lists…but before you head out to the store to make some of their dreams come true, be sure you take a few important safety topics into consideration. The holiday season is usually one of the most joyful times of the year, so don’t let an incident involving a dangerous or defective toy put a damper on your family’s cheer!

Tips for Picking the Right Toy

Safe Kids Worldwide (SKW), a global non-profit tasked with preventing childhood injury through research, community outreach, legislative advocacy and media awareness campaigns, has several useful gift-giving tips. They are:

• Consider your child’s age and development when you are purchasing a toy or game. Read a product’s instructions and warning labels to make sure it is the right gift for your child’s age and level of development
• Inspect the gift to see if it contains small parts and/or other types of choking hazards before you decide to make a purchase
• If you buy a new bike, skateboard, scooter or some other type of riding equipment make sure to include a helmet that has been certified by the CPSC, or the Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Use a bin or container to store toys when playtime is over. Make sure there are no holes or hinges that can catch small fingers
• Stay up to date on toy recalls. To sign up for SKW’s twice-monthly email alerts on product recalls specific to children, you can visit: https://safekids.salsalabs.org/recalls-newsletter/index.html. You can also visit recalls.gov to view product recalls related to kids

Dangerous Toys

Although toys can provide plenty of fun and enrichment, there are a couple things you need to remember to keep safety at the very top of your gift giving list.  The Mayo Clinic recommends that adults inspect all children’s toys for the following:

• Watch out for toys that are small enough for kids to inhale or put into their noses, mouths or ears. This includes items such as deflated balloons, marbles, beads and stuffed animal eyes
• Stuffed toys should be made with sturdy material and thread, and not filled with small, loose pellets
• No string or cord on the toy should be long enough to form a noose, twist around a finger or toe, or choke or strangle a baby or toddler
• Avoid toys with sharp edges, that use straight pins or staples, or have slots, hinges, or holes that can pinch toes or fingers
• All moving parts should be securely attached to the toy
• Beware of hidden toxins! Some children’s jewelry contains toxic levels of cadmium and lead. Other things, like button batteries, can lead to severe internal burns. Watch children closely so they do not put items in their mouths, do not buy jewelry for children under 6-years-old unless it is labeled for their age group, and research products and read all manufacturer labels

This Year’s Most Dangerous Toys

Earlier this month, W.A.T.C.H. (World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc.) released its 51^st annual list of nominees for the “10 Worst Toys” of 2023. W.A.T.C.H.’s list features 10 products that contain hazards that caregivers, families, and educators should avoid to keep children safe while they play. Here is this year’s list:

• Disney the Little Mermaid King Triton’s All-Powerful Trident. The toy has the potential for blunt force and eye injuries
• Original Squishmallows-Raisy – suffocation hazards
• Soccer Boppers, which create blunt force and impact hazards
• Diecast Fast-Food Truck: choking hazards
• Our Generation Hop In Dog Carrier – choking hazards
• Orbeez Seeds – Rainbow: has choking and ingestion dangers
• Splat-R-Ball Dude Perfect Blaster, which can cause eye injuries
• B Toys Make A Melody Musical Instrument Set, which has potential ingestion and choking injuries
• Zoom-O Turbo Disc Launcher – face and eye injuries
• Carve Pro Stunt Scooter – can cause head and other impact injuries

Be sure to avoid these toys during your holiday shopping – and be sure to check whatever toys you select for similar hazards.

Who is Responsible for a Toy-Related Injury?

Whether it is the holiday season or any other time of the year, consumers should be able to feel confident that the toys they choose for their younger loved ones are not dangerous or defective. Sadly, that is not always the case. When dangerous toys cause serious or fatal injuries in children, their families are left emotionally and financially devastated. Many of these injuries and deaths could have been prevented if manufacturers safely designed, produced and marked their products. When they fail to do this and a child sustains injuries has a result, it may be time to consult with an experienced products liability attorney who can assist you with filing a lawsuit.

Depending on the nature of the incident and injuries, damages you may be able to recover in a products liability lawsuit include:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Physical impairment
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of companionship

To learn more about filing a products liability claim, contact a representative at our firm now.

From our team at Galfand Berger, we wish you and your loved ones a happy and healthy holiday season!

Philadelphia Products Liability Lawyers at Galfand Berger, LLP, Representing Injured Victims Since 1947

If you have questions about filing a claim for injuries you sustained, contact the Philadelphia products liability attorneys at Galfand Berger LLP today. Call us at 800-222-USWA (8792) or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, we serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Allentown and Harrisburg.