When a toy has undetected dangers, a child can sustain a serious injury in seconds. In fact, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has estimated that more than 250,000 toy-related injuries were treated in emergency departments and 11 deaths occurred because of dangerous toys in 2014. Below are a few tips to identify possible dangers before giving a toy to a child.
An unforeseen manufacturing defect can also be the cause of a child’s toy-related death or injury, but these defects are not always clear. If your child was hurt by an unsafe toy, our personal injury lawyers can investigate the situation and answer any questions you have. Contact our firm for assistance.
Assume the worst. Expect a child to use the toy in the most dangerous way possible and without supervision. Examine the toy to determine if a child can dismantle it and accidentally create new hazards.
Look for small parts. A child can swallow or choke on small items such as marbles, balloons, small parts from larger toys, and more.
Do the toilet paper test. Try to drop a toy through a toilet paper roll. If the toy falls freely, it is a potential choking hazard.
Use common sense. Toys that are safe for older children may be deadly for a baby, toddler or small child. Educate older children about the dangers to younger kids, and monitor children carefully.