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Toy Safety Month: It's time to shop happy...and smart.

By Megan Roth

It’s that time of year – Christmas is all around (politically incorrect, I know – just check out the link).

But seriously, holiday season is upon us. Heck, it’s more than upon us, we’re immersed in it! Despite budget cuts, a plummeting economy, and other daily struggles, parents are running to and fro in search for the perfect gifts for their kids. Many of those “perfects” take the form of toys – which deliver big bang for the buck in terms of entertainment and convenience.

Living in midtown New York, I get to see parents scouring the shelves at FAO Schwartz; back home, I saw parents and children alike running wild at Toys R’ Us, Target, and Wal-Mart.

Regardless of the location, the effects are virtually the same. During their rampages, shoppers tear around corners and whip wildly from one aisle to the next. But in their tangent, how many shoppers actually stop to think about the perfect gift? How many look past the fact that “Gee, this will make Billy’s face light up!” or “Maddie is going to love this!” and think about what their buying?

Probably not as many as should. In case you don’t already know, December is Toy & Child Safety Month on Injuryboard (coincidence? Probably not…I've no doubt the powers that be recognized the increase in numbers the toy industry will pull this month and figured this could provide for an excellent educational opportunity). Heck, it’s not even halfway through December, and already I’ve learned so much.

There have been issues revolving around toy safety for years; however, they were really brought to the forefront just recently when Mattel recalled nearly 1 million toys that were covered in lead paint. Almost one million – that’s HUGE, right? One would think but, unfortunately that was just one in a string of recalls concerning toys manufactured in China.

This particular controversy struck in 2007 and it’s impact was huge. Internationally, media grabbed hold and ran with stories concerning the dangers such toys and toxins can pose to children both large and small. They also highlighted the scariest issue surrounding 'the issue': parents were willngly supplying those toys to their children and in doing so, they were unknowingly supplying them with the dangerous toxin as well...yikes.

We know the international exposure brought the issue to the forefront and put toy safety on the minds of consumers everywhere; but despite the high-volume attention, one can't help but wonder: is this still an issue to be concerned with today?

Answer: ABSOLUTELY! Between January and mid-March of this year, there had been 21 major toy recalls covering a range of products. And that was just in the first 2 ½ months! How’d the rest of the year play out?

Well, several months and numerous product recalls later (and I mean numerous; I don't have an exact figure for you, but I've read the recall lists and wowza!), President Bush signed a bill banning lead from toys (this occurred in August). Now, maybe I'm overly critical or am just searching for a source of drama, but I can't help but question why this bill was signed just a few months ago, when we’ve known for years that exposure to lead adversely affects health in a multitude of ways.

But oh well – I guess the delayed signing of the bill is neither here nor there at this point. What matters is the affects it’s had and will continue to have in the years to come.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Megan Roth

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on December 14, 2008 (boomark / email).