NMPIRG Releases 21st Annual Toy Safety Report

According to the recent NMPIRG “Trouble in Toyland” report, hazardous children’s toys are still being sold in stores across the country.

Based on data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the report reveals that a staggering 73,000 children under the age of five were treated in emergency rooms for toy-related injuries in 2005. Twenty of these injuries were fatal.

“Even one toy-related death is too many, because these deaths are preventable,” said NMPIRG Consumer Program Director Ed Mierzwinski. “And while we can report substantial progress after more than two decades of advocacy on behalf of America’s littlest consumers, NMPIRG still found trouble in toyland.”

The report offers safety guidelines for purchasing toys for small children and provides examples of toys currently on store shelves that pose potential safety hazards. Among the findings, the report details several examples of toys that violate choking hazard criteria, contain lead, and exceed decibel restrictions. In light of this information, Mierzwinski notes, “shoppers should examine all toys carefully for hidden dangers before they make a purchase.”