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For
Immediate Release: |
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For
Further Information Contact: |
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November
22, 2005 |
Office
of The Attorney General
-
Peter C. Harvey,
Attorney General
Division
of Consumer Affairs
- Kimberly Ricketts, Director
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Jeff
Lamm, Kara Wood
973-504-6327
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Consumer
Affairs and NJPIRG Urge Consumers to be
Vigilant
About Toy Safety this Holiday Season |
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TRENTON
- The New Jersey Division of Consumer
Affairs and the New Jersey Public Interest
Research Group today joined forces to
educate and alert consumers to the potential
hazards of children’s toys as the
holiday shopping season begins in earnest
this week.
"Shopping
for children’s toys is always a
fun experience, but it also demands our
careful attention and research as not
all toys are safe for all children,"
said Consumer Affairs Director Kimberly
Ricketts. "That is why we are working
hard to make New Jersey shoppers aware
of the potential hazards involved, so
we can help make this year’s holiday
season safer than ever for kids throughout
the state."
During
the annual toy safety news conference
with NJPIRG in Trenton, Director Ricketts
distributed a list that "red-flags"
some of the more hazardous toys that have
already been recalled by the Consumer
Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Investigators
from the Office of Consumer Protection
and county consumer affairs agencies throughout
the state will be visiting toy stores
during the holiday season to ensure that
these recalled toys have been removed
from the shelves. If any recalled toys
are found, inspectors will advise the
store to remove them from the shelves
and will report their findings to the
CPSC. A complete list of recalled toys
is available on the CPSC Web site at www.cpsc.gov.
"While
these toys should no longer be on the
shelves of local toy stores or available
on-line, the reality is that these toys
are likely still in the marketplace, and
unknowing consumers may still purchase
them," said Director Ricketts. "We
will be canvassing the state throughout
the holiday season to make sure that toy
stores are not carrying these products
and, if they are, that they are removed
from the shelves."
Additionally,
Director Ricketts recommended that shoppers
follow these common-sense tips for toy
safety, both before and after purchasing
gifts this holiday season:
When
selecting toys, shoppers should:
- Avoid
toys that have objects that can be shot
or propelled.
-
Avoid toys that make loud noises, like
cap guns, because they can damage a
child’s hearing.
-
Make sure strings and ribbons are no
longer than 6 inches to prevent strangulation,
and
-
Avoid toys with sharp points or edges.
After
purchasing toys, consumers should:
- Spot
check toys regularly for minor damage
and urge children to let you know when
a toy needs repair.
-
Throw away all toy packaging, such as
plastic, cellophane and Styrofoam.
-
Make sure batteries in toys are properly
installed and never allow your child
to sleep with a battery-operated toy.
-
Teach your child to use every toy properly.
"We
teach our children to do their homework
and use common-sense, and we should follow
those same rules when shopping for toys
this holiday season," concluded Director
Ricketts. "The health and safety
of our children depends on it."
###
New
Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs
2005 TOY SAFETY TASK FORCE HAZARD LIST
- DesignWare
4 Fairy Wand Party Favors (distributed
by American Greetings Corporation)
- Hazard:
The fairy wand party favors
can break apart, exposing sharp
wires that pose a laceration hazard
to children.
- Sold
at:
Toy, discount, drug, grocery, party
and specialty gift stores.
- Sparkle
Horse Toy (distributed by Douglas Company
of Keene, New Hampshire)
- Hazard:
Beads of glitter glue on the colored
ribbons could detach and pose an
aspiration hazard to young children.
- Sold
at: Specialty
toy and gift stores.
- Floor
Mat Map games (distributed by Hidden
Hills Productions, Inc. of Westlake
Village, California)
- Hazard:
The orange paint
on the floor mat maps contains excess
levels of lead. Lead poisoning is
a serious hazard to children and
is associated with behavioral problems,
learning disabilities, hearing problems
and growth retardation.
- Sold
at: Educational,
book, museum and specialty toy stores.
- Children’s
Fishing Kits (distributed by Shakespeare
Fishing Tackle Division of Columbia,
South Carolina)
- Hazard:
The
paint on the rods of these fishing
poles contain lead, which is toxic
if ingested by young children and
can cause adverse health effects.
- Sold
at:
Discount department, sporting good
and toy stores.
- Lemon
Meringue Wooden Push Toys (manufactured
by Pamela Drake, Inc., of Emeryville,
California)
- Hazard:
Small parts can
break off, posing a choking hazard
to young children.
- Sold
at: Toy and hobby
stores.
- Lil’
Wagster Dragster Push Toys (manufactured
by Fisher-Price of Aurora, New York)
- Hazard:
A young chid’s chin, jaw and
teeth can get lodged in the opening
at the top of the push toy’s
round shaped handle and incur injuries.
- Sold
at: Discount
department stores and toy stores.
- Grow-To-Pro
Pogo Sticks (manufactured by Fisher-Price
of Aurora, New York)
- Hazard:
An internal metal
pin can wear down, causing the pogo
sticks to remain stuck in the down
position and release unexpectedly,
posing a risk of fall or facial
impact injuries to children.
- Sold
at:
Discount department stores and toy
stores.
- Children’s
Fishing Poles (distributed by W.C. Bradley/Zebco
Holdings Inc. doing business as Zebco,
of Tulsa, Oklahoma)
- Hazard:
The paint on the rods of these fishing
poles contain lead, which is toxic
if ingested by young children and
can cause adverse health effects.
- Sold
at: Discount department,
sporting good and toy stores.
#
# #
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