More Issues In the News

By: Johnell Johnson

CHARLOTTE -- Every year children die from playing with toys. Those with the North Carolina Public Interest Research Group are working to prevent those deaths by making parents aware of the potential danger.

On Monday the group released its 21st annual Toy Safety Survey, showing toys you might want to look out for.

When Charlene Lewis shops for her 18-month-old, Trinity, she's confident she knows what she's doing.

"What's age appropriate?” Lewis asks herself. “Will she play with the toy more than once?”

But those with the North Carolina Public Interest Research Group say buying toys for your children isn't child's play.

"One death is unnecessary because they are completely preventable,” explained Reid Johnson of the group.

In 2005, 73,000 children under the age of five were treated for toy-related injuries nationwide. Twenty children died due to toys. A total of nine died from things like balloons, balls or toy parts, all things some parents say is alarming.

"I'm surprised,” Lewis continued. “These are on the recall list?"

The latest toy to make that list is this seemingly harmless toy, Polly Pocket. Since 2005 one child has died and others have been injured because they have swallowed powerful magnets from toys like this.

Johnson says 13,000 magnet toys have been returned because of the potential danger. "Magnets are powerful and if there's more than one in the intestine they can attract each other, which causes obstruction or perforation actually and tearing of the intestinal wall.”

Other toys NCPIRG suggests you watch out for include Rev-Ups Speed Shifters cars.

When the wheels fall off children can place them in their mouths and toys like that can also be a choking hazard.

Johnson added, “If the item can fit through a toilet paper tube, it's too small."

For a complete list of safety tips, log onto ToySafety.net.