Attorney Chad McLain Discusses Holiday Toy Safety on Good Day Tulsa

On Thursday, December 12^th, Attorney Chad McLain of Graves McLain appeared on KTUL’s Good Day Tulsa program to talk about how to select safe, age-appropriate holiday gifts for children, and what dangerous toys to look out for. Watch the segment:

It gets more difficult each holiday season to determine which toys would be great gifts for the children in your life. The non-profit safety group World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. (WATCH) publishes a list of the “10 Worst Toys” annually. The aim of this list is to inform consumers of the inherent dangers in some toys currently on the market. Toy safety is a bigger issue than some may realize; in 2017, over 250,000 toy-related injuries were treated in U.S. emergency rooms, and 13 toy-related fatalities occurred.

One of the toys appearing on the WATCH list is the Pogo Trick Board. Aimed at ages 6 and over, this toy presents the potential for serious head and bodily injuries. While the box does include a warning to wear a helmet and protective gear, only two of the three children appearing on the packaging are actually wearing a helmet, and none have protective gear on. The photos on the package encourage kids to attempt tricks and stunts as well.

Another toy on the list is Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog. Geared for very young children (the box notes ages 18 months and up), this toy features removable 3-inch-long “quills.” These quills present a major choking hazard, given that small children tend to put items in their mouths. They also hold the potential for an eye injury.

There are several things that consumers can do to make sure that the toys they purchase are reasonably safe. A few steps in the right direction are:

• Read the label – warning labels instruct you how to use the toy and what ages the toy is safe for
• Look for toys and toy parts that are larger than a child’s mouth in order to prevent choking
• Stay away from toys that shoot objects into the air or have projectile parts as those can cause serious eye injuries or choking
• Make sure stuffed animals are well-constructed – avoid toys with small pellets or stuffing that could cause choking, and remove any loose ribbons or strings.

Graves McLain is Here to Help

If you or a loved one has been injured by a Defective Toy or other Dangerous Product, call Graves McLain right away at 918-359-6600 or fill out a free consultation form online. When you call one of our experienced Product Liability Attorneys, we will speak with you for FREE and determine the best course of action.

We review every detail of your situation at no cost to you—and fight hard to protect your rights. Trust our team, we are here to help. At Graves McLain, you will never pay an attorney’s fee upfront—and you owe us nothing until we win your case. At Graves McLain, we don’t get paid until you do.

Graves McLain, Serious Lawyers for Serious Injuries