New Safety Report Points to Hazards from Playpens and Balloons
The Empire State Consumer Project has found a number of hazards for young children in talking greeting cards, balloons and playpens
According to an article from USA Today, the Empire State Consumer Project has raised concern over certain objects that may pose a higher risk to young children than previously thought. The Empire State Consumer Project stated in a news conference last week that items such as balloons, playpens and talking greeting cards may be unsafe for children.
In the news conference held last week, according to USA Today, president of the Empire State Consumer Project Judy Braiman said that in 2012, 265,000 children were injured and 11 killed from toys. In an ongoing effort to lower this number, the group has expressed concern over a statewide initiative that will donate 21,000 playpens to families. The playpens are designed to help families who cannot afford safe sleep furniture, though the group believes the playpens should not be treated as portable cribs because it is dangerous. Braiman said playpens should never be used as cribs.
Braiman also added that she sees balloons as one of the most dangerous objects around, because children can swallow pieces of them when they break and suffocate. In addition, the group raised concern over talking greeting cards, as around 3,500 children a year get poisoned by eating the batteries inside them.
For more information, visit: http://empirestateconsumerproject.blogspot.com/