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Death still lurks on toy shelves Fatalities cut, but 14 kids died last year By WENDY SIPOREN Play it safe with toys The following are some tips on toy safety from the U.S. Public Interest Group: Be wary of toys with small parts, marbles, small balls and toys that may break into small parts. Toys found in toy store bins, vending machines and fast-food children's meals are the source of many choking hazards. Avoid toys that are smaller than the child's fist or that fit through a cardboard toilet paper roll. Get a no-choke testing tube, available at some toy stores, to test your child's existing toys. Always supervise children with balloons, inflated or not. Keep balloons away from children under age 8. Strings, cords and necklaces can strangle infants. Crib toys should not have cords or strings longer than six inches. Toddlers' pull-toys should have strings no longer than 12 inches and should not have any knot or bead at the end of the string. Look for toys that say PVC or phthalate-free. ASHLAND -- An annual sweep of toy stores by a consumer protection group found 34 types of dangerous toys stocking those shelves, according to an annual report released Tuesday. The report on toy safety by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group is conducted each year as the holiday season approaches to warn parents and others of the potential hazards of certain types of toys. The organization's work has resulted in 56 toy recalls in the last 13 years. "Just because a toy appears on the shelf or doesn't appear on our list doesn't mean the toy is safe," warned Yoni Bibliowicz of the Oregon Student Public Interest Group. "The report is a random sampling of toys, not a complete representation of all the (dangerous) toys out there." Most of the toys qualified for the list because they contained small parts but didn't comply with the Consumer Product Safety Commission's labeling requirement warning purchasers of the choking hazard. While toy-related deaths have been cut in half since the early 1990s, the Consumer Products Safety Commission reported that 14 children died last year in toy-related accidents. Choking, particularly choking on balloon fragments, continues to be the leading cause of toy-related deaths. Eight children died by choking on toys in 1998: four on balloons, one on a small ball and three on other toy parts. Tricycles and other riding toys were associated with four deaths last year: one child was riding and was hit by a vehicle; three others rode into a swimming pool and drowned. In addition, an estimated 69,100 children under 5 years old were treated in hospital emergency rooms for toy-related injuries in 1998. "It's a wake-up call for grandparents and parents to be mindful as they purchase presents for the holidays," said Nancy Seward, director of child development at the Ashland Family YMCA. Seward also reminded families who may have young guests to make sure the toys they are providing are appropriate for their age. "Infants and toddlers love to chew on things," she said. "That's the way they learn about the world." Seward is concerned about the use of toxic phthalates in many plastic toys, including common teething toys and vinyl books. The chemicals are used to soften hard plastic or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and have been linked to liver and kidney damage, according to a 1998 Greenpeace report. Toy manufacturers say it is improbable the chemical can be sucked out of the toys in sufficient quantities to do harm. But many have responded to the Consumer Product Safety Commission's request that the toy industry voluntarily remove phthalates from rattles and teethers, although old stock remains on the shelves. The U.S. Public Interest Research Group is advocating that phthalates be banned in all toys for children 5 years old and younger. On Nov. 10, the European Union banned the use of six different phthalates in toys intended for children 3 and younger; for toys intended for older children, the union imposed labeling requirements. For more information about toy safety, including a list of toys that have been recalled, contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission at 1-800-638-2772 or at www.cpsc.gov The full report, titled "Trouble in Toyland," may be found at www.pirg.org/consumer/products/toy/99 Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA