Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 13, 1994 TAG: 9411150037
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Boston Globe
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The white synthetic-fur rabbit has a cloth flower attached to its right paw that an infant could choke on, cautions Boston personal injury attorney Edward M. Swartz.
Swartz, founder of the consumer advocacy group World Against Toys Causing Harm Inc., released his annual list of ``10 Worst Toys'' that he says are dangerous and potentially lethal to children.
``It's a consumer alert,'' he said. ``Eighty-five percent of a child's waking hours between ages 1 and 5 are spent playing with toys. What percentage of adult time is spent studying toys? We buy toys for the wrong reasons. We don't look at them suspiciously and critically.''
``We're glad to be notified about the toys,'' said Carilee Galligan, store manager at Boston's F.A.O. Schwarz.
Galligan said she would immediately pull off the shelf a wind-up toy called Crawly Creeps. Swartz said the toy has readily removable and detachable parts that could choke or asphyxiate babies. Galligan pointed out these were not sold in the preschooler section.
Brooke Adkins, a vice president at Schwarz, said that every year some of the toys on the annual list turn out not to be problems, but ``it's good that people are out there looking out for children's safety.''
Here's the 1994 list of ``10 Worst Toys'':
Baby Walk About. Manufacturer: In Time Products Co., Austin Tower, T.S.T., Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Exclusive Burger King Z-Bots Robots. Manufacturer: Louis Galoob Toys Inc., Del Rio, Texas.
Crawly Creeps, Equestrian Tops. Manufacturer not noted, purchased at F.A.O. Schwarz.
Peter Pan Captain Hook's Light-Up Sword. Manufacturer not listed, purchased at The Disney Store.
Bambi Touch'n Song Thumper. Manufacturer: Mattel Inc., El Segundo, Calif.
Super Soaker Slinger Water Balloon Slingshot. Manufacturer: Funrise Inc., Woodland Hills, Calif.
Battery-powered Lion King Ride-On. Manufacturer: Buddy L. Inc., Gloversville, N.Y.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Helmet Racers. Manufacturer: Marchon Inc., Vernon Hills, Ill.
Slashed Throat Wound. Manufacturer: Steptoes Product, SJNC Group, Coalville, England.
M-60 Automatic Assault Lazer. Manufacturer: Royal Condor-SRM Co., Philadelphia.
by CNB