Wayne HoganThe president of Terrell Hogan’s personal injury and death law firm is in favor of keeping children safe from dangerous toys this holiday season.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSP), there were 226,100 toy-related injuries in the United States in 2018. Hogan urges parents to review World Against Toys Causing Harm Inc.’s (WATCH) “10 Worst Toys for 2020” list for informed decisions.
“WATCH has been doing this for years. They go through the toys that are out there looking for those that have different types of hazards that are really of concern to the parents, ”Hogan said.
Hogan has represented families whose children have been injured by unsafe toys.
“We had a specific example years ago that I always remember most clearly, and the kid choked on a toy – and that’s why I’ve talked about it so much – that was able to go down the windpipe, and the kid died as a result. The end result of this case was that the manufacturer took even that type of product off the market, ”Hogan said.
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Toys with well-known names like Marvel Universe or Disney are not necessarily safe because the companies sell usage rights to the name. These toys are often made overseas with fewer regulations.
“The companies that make these films are happy to be paid to have someone use their names, but they have no control over what is done with them [it]. And so you run the risk, ”explains Hogan.
Shopping online presents an additional risk. It is difficult to check the packaging for ingredients and safety warnings.
“We are in a pandemic here and people are shopping online more than ever. But you can’t really read the packaging online. You cannot inspect the toy. They don’t know where it’s made, what kind of color is on the toy. All of these types of design and warning issues come with it [buying] Things online, ”said Hogan.
If parents come across a toy on the list their child already owns, he recommends returning it to the store and contacting the CPSP. He warns parents not to donate unsafe items or put them in a yard sale.
According to WATCH, toys bought in person or made in the USA are not automatically safe. They followed a secondary list of warnings and kept an updated list of recalled toys to ensure your kids are safe this holiday season.
WATCH’s list of the 10 worst toys of 2020
1.) Calico Critters Kindergarten Friends. Possible choking hazards.
2.) Rocket launcher. Possible eye and face injuries.
3.) Marvel Avengers Vibranium Power FX Claw. Possible eye and face injuries.
4.) Gloria Owl. Ingestion potential.
5.) WWE Jumbo Superstar Fists. Potential for blunt force and impact injuries.
6.) Sci-fi slime. Chemical Injury Potential.
7.) Boomerang Interactive Stunt UFO. Possible injuries from propellers.
8th.) Boom City Racer. Possible eye and face injuries.
9.) My sweet love Lots of love babies Minis. Possible risk of suffocation.
10.) Star Wars Mandalorian Darksaber. Potential for blunt violence and eye injuries.
The full interview with Hogan can be heard on First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross on Tuesday, which will also be published on WJCT News 89.9 at 8 p.m.
Katherine Hobbs can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @KatherineGHobbs.
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