HOUSTON, Nov. 20 -- Parents need to check their list twice before hitting toy stores this holiday season.
Texas Children's Hospital today released the U.S. Public Interest Research Group's (PIRG) annual list of most dangerous toys. PIRG's "Trouble in Toyland" report contains 53 toys that pose choking, toxic chemical exposure and hearing-loss hazards to children.
While PIRG's 16th annual survey noted some improvement, in 2000 an estimated 191,000 children went to the emergency room for injuries from unsafe toys. The leading cause of toy-related deaths is choking.
"What parents don't realize is there are many toys with small pieces that can become easily lodged in a child's throat," said Dr. Carla Giannoni, an otolaryngologist at Texas Children's Hospital and assistant professor of otolaryngology, Baylor College of Medicine. "Hopefully, parents will see this list and stay away from toys that can cause senseless injuries and possible deaths."
The annual report highlights potential hazards posed by toys found during a survey of stores in October and November. PIRG cautions consumers about toy hazards in five categories: choking hazards, toxic chemicals, hearing-loss hazards, scooter dangers and toys purchased on the Internet.
Online toy sales grew by 22 percent last year, and PIRG urges toy givers to be cautious about buying toys online.
"While the Internet offers consumers the convenience of avoiding toy stores and the possibility of making a purchase anytime, Internet purchasers won't see child-safety choke-hazard warnings required by law on toys sold in stores," said Tara Losoff, Field Organizer, U.S. PIRG.
Hazardous toys still can be found on store shelves across the country, despite passage of the 1994 Child Safety Protection Act, according to a nationwide survey. The PIRG list has resulted in the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) taking enforcement action on more than 100 toys in the past 15 years.
PIRG's complete list of this year's most dangerous toys is available at http://www.texaschildrenshospital.org and http://www.toysafety.net. For information on preventing injuries, visit the Texas Children's Center for Childhood Injury Prevention at http://www.texaschildrenshospital.org, by clicking on patient care centers, then childhood injury prevention.
