For children, playtime is all the time, and the tools they use in play, of course, are toys.
Toys aid children in learning about their surroundings; thus, they feel and learn to distinguish shapes, appreciate colors, listen to sounds, feel texture and even taste whatever they can get their hands on. It is very important, therefore, that the toys parents give them are totally safe, that is free of choking hazards and pointed edges, and do not contain any toxic substance.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is an independent government agency that was formed in 1972 for the purpose of regulating the sale and manufacture of consumer products, as well as for ensuring the safety of these. Some of its other duties include the banning of any type of consumer product that causes danger (or has the potential to cause danger), issue product recalls (of those already available on the market), and formulate product safety requirements.
To help ensure the safety of small children the CPSC determines the allowed sizes of toys, limits for toxicity and noise (due to the very loud noise produced by some items), the inaccessibility of the toy’s batteries and magnets, removal of sharp edges or parts that can wound a child, and the display of clear product labels that warn about the toy’s possible dangers.
In 2014 the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), a non-profit organization, released “Trouble in Toyland,’ a report which highlighted potentially hazardous toys and issued tips to parents on how to make sure that they get to purchase safe toys for their children.
W.A.T.C.H., which stands for World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc., is another non-profit organization that is committed to providing the public with helpful information on dangerous children’s products, at the same time protecting children from any harm. W.A.T.C.H. also notifies the public about the different types of dangers found in many children’s toys and products, and recreational activities.
A list of the “10 Worst Toys of 2014” was released by W.A.T.C.H. to send parents the clear message of the need to keep their children away from harmful toys and from toy manufacturers who are more concerned with sale over safety.
Very young children getting injured can evoke varied emotions, including anger, frustration and the determination to bring the liable party to justice. Pursuing legal actions, however, may require the assistance of a seasoned personal injury lawyer, whose knowledge of, and experience in, the tort law may be able to help the child victim attain the justice that he or she rightly deserves.