Parents have a new concern to worry about when selecting gifts for children this holiday season – dangerously loud toys.
That’s the word from the Washington Public Interest Research Group, or WashPIRG, which held several news conferences Tuesday to announce the results of its annual toy safety study.
Sarah Widder, a spokeswoman for the group, noted that prolonged exposure to noise at 85 decibels can harm children.
Toys such as Fisher-Price’s Learn Through Music or Geoffrey Inc.’s Elite Operations M-1 Tank are louder than that and should be avoided, Widder said during a news conference at the City Kids of Everett day care center in south Everett.
While noise is a new concern based on recent standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials, the biggest danger remains the same – toys or toy pieces that pose a choking hazard.
Last year, 11 children across the nation died of toy-related injuries. Ten of the deaths were from choking on small balls, balloons, pieces of a game or toy beads, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Widder said parents should look at toys carefully to make sure they’re too big for toddlers to put into their mouths. She suggested that parents use an empty toilet paper roll as a guide. If an item fits inside, it’s too small, she said.
“Children under 3 put everything in their mouths,” she said. “Small balls pose even more of a hazard because they can block a child’s throat completely.”
Rick Robinson, assistant Everett fire marshal, agreed.
“Parents are the built-in defense mechanism for children,” he said. “There’s always a danger when kids get on their own that they can get out and find these things.”
In addition to small items, parents should also avoid toys with small parts that come off easily. And they should avoid balloons for all children under 8, Widder said.
“Balloons are the biggest choking hazard,” she said.
What’s the worst toy this holiday season?
Widder said it’s the yo-yo water ball, a water-filled ball on an elastic-like cord that can be bounced, squeezed or twirled overhead like a lasso.
“This is the biggest threat of this year,” Widder said. “This toy alone has caused a lot of injuries.
The toy has been the source of nearly 400 injury reports to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, with many of the reports involving cords that wrapped around the child’s neck.
Other safety concerns include potentially toxic materials.
Phalates in some soft vinyl toys and modeling clay can be dangerous to young children. Some child cosmetics, such as fingernail polish, also contain xylene, a dangerous chemical, Widder said.
She said parents should examine all toys and their packaging carefully before making a purchase.
“Children are prone to put their fingers in their mouths” as well as their toys, she said.
Elizabeth Armstrong / The Herald
Sarah Widder of WashPIRG describes the toilet tissue roll test. If a ball or other toy can pass through the cardboard tube, it may pose a hazard for children under 3 years old.
Merianda Anderson, 3, uses nontoxic markers at a desk suitable for a child of her age at the City Kids of Everett day care center.
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