Play it Safe

As the Christmas holidays approach, safety experts ask parents to be vigilant in regard to the toys they purchase for their children so as to avoid injuries or even deaths.

Parents walking through bargain stores might be tempted to buy lower quality toys, which are worth only a few dollars versus brand toys that are more expensive but may be of better quality and safer. However, officials of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission encourage parents to exercise caution and common sense in the purchase of toys to avoid safety issues.

Nychelle Fleming, spokeswoman for the CPSC, said it's very important to keep a sharp eye out for age-specific labels on toys to prevent small children from getting their hands on tiny toy parts, which could be easily swallowed and obstruct airways or cause internal injuries.

The most recent CPSC figures show that in 2007 there were 18 toy-related child deaths and 232,900 injuries. Of the 18 deaths, seven were related to airway obstruction or suffocation.

To test the safety of bargain toys available in Brownsville's downtown area, The Brownsville Herald purchased toys from various stores to determine how easily they could be broken into small parts and swallowed.

The toys purchased included a set of three small Barbie-like dolls, a pair of foreign Dragon Ball figures, a pair of foreign Zodiac Fighters lookalikes, one airsoft shotgun and one large robot similar to Voltron. With the exception of the large robot, all of the toys were purchased for under $3. The robot was purchased for $15. It was obvious that the bargain toys were low-price reproductions of name-brand toys.

In The Herald's conference room, using still and video photography, employees used incremental amounts of pulling force to determine the sturdiness of the toys.

Much to the staff's surprise, the toys broke or fell apart with a minimal amount of pressure. The Voltron-like toy was the only one that withstood the assault, while others broke into small parts or even sharp pieces that could puncture the skin. The airsoft shotgun, which cost $1.49, also proved to be a projectile risk, as the small plastic pellets traveled fast enough to hurt one editor struck by the projectile.

Fleming also warns parents of the danger from toys with magnets.

"The child could swallow small magnet parts," she said. "Then they could all reattach inside causing internal injury."

The toy expert said that one of the biggest dangers comes from rideable toys such as scooters, on which children can ride into traffic or into a pool. She added that there is a trauma issue with falls.

"If a parent or a grandparent wants to buy a scooter toy, it's a good idea to include protective equipment with the toy," Fleming said.

In 2007 , CPSC had a total of 138 toy recalls, according to Fleming, the spokeswoman. Ninety-seven of those recalls were related to lead issues with paint or other materials.

"The best idea is for parents to regularly check our Web site at www.CPSC.gov and check the toy recalls," Fleming said. "There they can sign up for electronic updates to stay up to date on toy recalls."

Adelina Pruneda, spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, encourages parents to go the extra mile for safety and purchase toys from reputable retailers and avoid counterfeit and low-quality toys.

"We encourage parents to think twice," Pruneda said. "If something doesn't look right or feels flimsy, it's best to avoid that item. If consumers feel it's a counterfeit item, they can contact local police or the sheriff's department. They can also go the ICE Web site and report it with us."

The Internet address is http://www.ice.gov

iortiz@brownsvilleherald.com