Better Business Bureau offers tips to avoid buying dangerous toys

During the weeks before Christmas each year, consumer protection advocates release studies and warning lists about toys that could prove dangerous to children.
Although the information is circulated and recalls are frequently announced, there still exists the probability that many of these toys will remain for sale on retailers’ shelves and be purchased by unsuspecting shoppers.
The Better Business Bureau of Massachusetts provides tips about to how reduce the likelihood of such an occurrence.
According to Paula Fleming, vice president of communications and marketing for the BBB in New England,more than 20 million toys were pulled off shelves last year as a result of more than 60 recalls ? more than twice the number of alerts the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission issued in 2006.
While toy manufacturers have increased product testing in order to reduce the number of unsafe toys on the market, unfortunately, dangerous toys continue to be sold in the U.S. To date, the CPSC has issued recalls on more than 50 toys due to the threat of lead poisoning, choking, burns and other hazards. However, less than 20 percent of those recalled toys actually make it back to the manufacturer for proper disposal or repair.
“We don’t expect to see the same number of recalls that we did in 2007, but that doesn’t mean every toy unwrapped over the holidays is appropriate and safe,” said Fleming. The BBB “has easy guidelines that parents and gift givers can follow to ensure that the toys they spend so much time selecting and purchasing this year are safe.”
It’s relatively easy to find out which toys have been recalled. The CPSC keeps a list on its Web site atwww.cpsc.gov. Consumers can also subscribe to the agency’s email list atwww.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.
The Toy Industry Association also provides extensive information on toy safety and people can scroll through photos of recalled toys in an easy-to-use index on their Web site www.toyinfo.org.
The CPSC negotiates the specific resolution over a recalled toy with the toy manufacturer ? usually resulting in a refund or an exchange for a different toy. Parents can consult the CPSC Web site for specific resolutions and instructions.
Shoppers can also try returning a recalled toy directly to the retailer ? rather than dealing with the manufacturer. Many major retailers have their own return policy for recalled toys, and policies may differ.
According to Fleming, while some recalled toys can cause noticeable injury to a child, toys that contain too much lead can have a less obvious, although still dangerous, affect. The CPSC warns that at-home lead-level testing kits are inaccurate, so parents worried about lead poisoning should first talk to their pediatrician about conducting a blood test.
If a child is injured by a potentially faulty or toxic toy, in addition to contacting medical personnel the parents can also call the CPSC hotline at 800-638-2772.
Most large retailers are quick to pull products off the shelf, and, as a secondary precaution, flag the bar codes, so if the item is scanned at checkout, the cashier knows to not let consumers purchase it. While online auction sites or bulletin boards may have policies against selling recalled toys, researchers from the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Columbus Children’s Hospital found that recalled toys and other unsafe products are often sold to unknowing parents.
“It’s very important to check with the CPSC and the Toy Industry Association before buying a new or used toy or product for children online,” Fleming said.
For more information, visit the BBB online atwww.bbb.orgor try the following toy recall hotlines:
Consumer Products Safety Commission: 800-638-2772; The Toy Industry Association: 888-888- 4TOYS; Mattel: 800-916-4498; Fisher-Price: 800-991-2444; or Toys R Us: 800-869-7787.