Wheeled Shoes Top List Of Worst Toys

[matcom]

<snip>

The popular Heelys, shoes with detachable wheels in the heels, topped this year's "10 Worst Toys" list created by the Massachusetts consumer group World Against Toys Causing Harm . This past March a boy wearing Heelys died when he collided with a car.

The WATCH organization, founded by Edward M. Swartz , a Boston lawyer and child safety consumer advocate, comes up with the annual list of unsafe toys by examining toy recalls and hazards identified by the government, browsing toy store aisles, and checking out new hot products.

This year's list also includes a Pottery Barn Kids pyramid stacking toy and a bow and arrow kit.

"This is not an exhaustive list but representative of the types of toys we're seeing on the shelves that present major dangers," said James Swartz , WATCH's director.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission reported about 20 toy-related deaths involving children under the age of 15 in 2005, including nine involving a child choking or aspirating on a small ball or other toy part . Another 152,400 children under 15 were treated for toy-related injuries in emergency rooms, though the majority of these cases were not the result of a recalled or dangerous product but rough play.

Joan Lawrence , vice president of standards and regulatory affairs for the Toy Industry Association, said the list "can needlessly scare parents about some specific products that comply with tough US standards," including Fisher Price's pull-toy dog Lil' Snoopy.

"Toy safety is something we focus on year round and what this list does is to give the opportunity to remind parents and consumers to ensure safe and fun play," Lawrence said.

http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2006/11/21/wheeled_shoes_top_list_of_worst_toys?mode=PF

[RumpusCat]

1. To be fair...

I'm sure more than one kid has died this past year from colliding with a car while NOT wearing the wheeled shoes. The worst I can say about 'em is that they're irritating in the mall when some little hellion comes tearing past you.

[Hugin]

2. I guess I'd better get some before they ban them...

I was lucky to get some lawn darts in time.

I've always thought those 'Heelys' were cool.

[matcom]

3. ooo i'll pick up some too!

then we can play lawn darts whilst wheeling 'round together! :D

[Hugin]

4. Sounds like a plan...

:thumbsup:

[Hugin]

5. "bow and arrow kit"

A perennial favorite...

Have I ever mentioned the time my best friend shot me in the eye with one?

[Patiod]

6. Always bizarre to see a child GLIDE past

Took me a while to realize there were wheeled sneakers, and that I just wasn't spacing.

[NewJeffCT]

7. same with me

it was a bit weird the first few times I saw it happen in the local mall.

[underpants]

8. What about the Jr. Turkey deepfrier???

Oh yeah sure it's all kinds of fun but....

[matcom]

9. perfectly safe

it will only hold a game hen :rofl:

[underpants]

11. Well... I heard that if you drop the turkey from REEEEAL HIGH

It'll SPLASH* right in there. My cousins comin' over later he says he knows how to do it.

[matcom]

12. make sure you hold his beer first

:rofl:

[Hugin]

10. I kept running out of Cornish Game Hens to use...

They don't warn you about that on the packaging.

[ContraBass Black]

13. How are they worse than any other rollerskates?