As we head into the upcoming holiday season, Queens defective product attorneys want to remind parents and other consumers to be careful in the products you buy for your children this year.
There are loads of toys and other child products out there that are a danger to your child so make sure you check for recalls and hazards and buy wisely this holiday season.
Most New York child injuries from defective toys are considered preventable. In fact, there were roughly 250,000 emergency room visits last year involving toy-related injuries, most of which could have been avoided. 
Children while playing with toys are at risk of fall accidents, poisoning, puncture wounds, burn injuries, suffocation and severe cuts among other things. Protecting children from injuries should be the first priority of manufacturers, distributors, and retailers but unfortunately some products slip through the cracks.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recently took a vote and approved to have child products tested by an independent third party. Private labelers, importers and manufacturers will now be required to:
-Continue to test and certify products made for children in compliance with safety standards as set forth by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008.
-Agree to have periodic testing done by a third party.
-Product changes in design, source of component parts and manufacturing process must be re-tested and re-certified for federal safety standards.
-Keep up-to-date records on file for certification and testing of their products.
-Once in effect with the Federal Register, labels can be placed on the product that states “Meets CPSC Safety Requirements” in show of good faith that the product complies with all federal standards.
One child toy you may have been considering this holiday season is the Auto Fire Target Sets manufactured by Henry Gordy in nearby Plainfield, NJ. CPSC recently cited the Toy Dart manufacturer — handing out a $1,100,000 civil penalty for failing to report a safety defect to the Commission. The company allegedly knew about the defect since May 2006. By May 2010, there were already three deaths caused by the defective target gun set. The Auto Fire Target Sets were sold between September 2005 and January 2009 at roughly $1.50 each exclusively at Family Dollar stores.
The hazardous product can lead to choking or blocked air passage if a child puts the dart inside their mouth.
Children under 5 have the highest risk of a toy-related injury and often sustain injuries to their mouth, eyes, ears, arms legs or throat. Children under the age of 3 are at particular risk of a choking accident because they are the age group most likely to want to put a toy in their mouth.
In 2006, the CPSC reported 22 toy-related deaths for children ages 14 and under. The number one cause of toy-related deaths and injuries were from riding toys that year. In 2006, there were over 220,000 trips to the emergency room from toy-related injuries for children of all ages. In 2002, choking hazards caused 54 percent of toy-related fatalities most commonly caused by balloons.
Parents, guardians and caretakers concerned about holiday gift buying for their children should visit U.S. PIRG online for their annual Trouble in Toyland toy safety report. These helpful resources can help consumers avoid common hazards and provide shopping tips that will help keep your children safe this holiday season and throughout the year.
If your child is harmed by a defective product or is injured by a hazardous toy in Queens, Manhattan or the surround areas, contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Rose PLLC. Call for a free no-obligation appointment to discuss your case at 1-877-313-7673.
More Blog Entries:
Defective Space Heaters Can Lead to Fire-Related Injuries in New York, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, September 25, 2011.
Defective Cribs a Tragic Danger Facing New York Infants, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, February 5, 2011.
