| All parents worry about the safety of their kids- you | | | | various Barbie accessories. |
| protect them by keeping sharp objects out of reach, | | | | 2. Mattel also recalled about 345,000 action figure sets |
| don't give them candy they can choke on, you make | | | | because of unsafe magnets. The magnets were able |
| sure they hold your hand. But what do you do when | | | | to come loose and could be fatal if swallowed. If the |
| your child's toys are the cause of their injuries? It | | | | child swallowed two magnets they could stick together |
| seems that more and more children's toys are being | | | | in the digestive track and require surgery to remove. |
| recalled because they are not safe. Whether it be | | | | Mattel also pulled nearly 7.3 million Polly Pocket toys for |
| interlocking zippers on boots that cause them to trip, or | | | | the same reason. |
| lead paint on their race cars, it seems every time you | | | | 3. Nearly 1 million Hasbro Easy-Bake Ovens were also |
| turn around another product is being pulled off the | | | | recalled because children were getting their fingers |
| shelves. | | | | stuck in the oven's opening. |
| Who's Involved? | | | | 4. Other recalls include baby swings that were trapping |
| The name we've been hearing the most about in toy | | | | the child, Small World Toys that included small magnets |
| recalls over the last several months has no doubt | | | | and other choking hazard, and Graco Soft Blocks |
| been Mattel. They have had to recall many millions of | | | | Tower Toys that contained a plastic cover that posed |
| toys because of factory defects, lead paint, and poor | | | | as a choking hazard. |
| design. While 65% of Mattel's children's toys are made | | | | So, Here's What to Do. |
| in China and despite having spent the proper time to | | | | If you feel one of your child's toys could be one that |
| heavily test all of their toys, Mattel has admitted that | | | | has been recalled, check its product number against |
| some of the responsibility for the recall is their own. | | | | those listed in the recall notice. If you're seriously |
| While the lead in the surface paint on many toys came | | | | unsure, just throw it out. Discard any and all toys you |
| from subcontractors in China, that was not the only | | | | feel may contain lead or other unsafe parts. If you can |
| reason for the recalls, many had design flaws as well. | | | | confirm that it is in fact a recalled item, take it back to |
| While a number of different defects are responsible | | | | the store where you purchased it. Because of the |
| for the recent recalls, lead paint has been the number | | | | recall, they will give you your money back. |
| one problem. Several hundred thousand items have | | | | Check your children's toys for choking hazards. Any |
| been recalled because of excessive levels of lead. | | | | small parts that could come lose, pull them off and |
| 150,000 bookmarks and journals, 200,000 toy key | | | | throw them out, or discard the toy entirely. |
| chains, 80,000 toy flashlights, and 20,000 wooden toys... | | | | Have your child tested for lead exposure! Some |
| just to name a few. | | | | children will not show signs of lead poisoning even if |
| What's Been Pulled and Why? | | | | they have been exposed to levels high enough to |
| Many different toys have been pulled off shelves so | | | | result in learning and behavior problems. |
| it's impossible to list them all here, but here are a few | | | | If your child was a victim of a defective toy, seek legal |
| examples of toys that have been recalled and the | | | | advice. While some of the injuries are more minor- like |
| injuries they cause: | | | | those caused by the Hannah Montana boots that |
| 1. Fisher-Price recalled about a million Dora the Explorer | | | | cause children to trip and fall, others are far more |
| and Sesame Street products, because they contained | | | | serious. The effects of toxic lead on a child could be |
| unsafe levels of toxic lead in the surface paint. Other | | | | life altering. Seek experienced and proven successful |
| Mattel toys recalled for the same reason include the | | | | Personal Injury Lawyers who can fight hard on your |
| Elmo Keyboard, toy figures of Sarge - a popular | | | | behalf. |
| character from Disney Pixar's 'Cars' film, and 675,000 | | | | |