By Jeremy Carroll
C & G Staff Writer

ROYAL OAK — As parents begin their holiday shopping, an advocacy group is warning them to be wary of toys — like those with small parts or that make loud noises — that might pose danger to their children.

Kara Rumsey, an advocate for the Public Interest Research Group in Michigan, discussed their annual report, “Trouble in Toyland,” Nov. 24 at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak.

The report highlights toys bought in the metro Detroit area in recent weeks, including items containing high levels of lead and choking hazards and those that exceed the limitations for decibel levels.

“Although Congress responded to the recalls in recent years with a revamp of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, making products safer isn’t going to happen overnight,” she said.

Rumsey said it is up to parents to closely examine toys and to look for things that could be choking hazards or might be too loud for children. Parents can check if items contain choking hazards for children 3 years old and younger by attempting to put pieces into an empty toilet paper roll. If the item fits, it’s too small, she said.

Rumsey said hazardous toys are not limited to just those sold in dollar stores or items made in China.

“You hear that there are a lot of products that are dangerous out of China, but that’s because 80 percent of all toys are made in China,” she said. “We’ve found problems with toys made in the U.S. and Mexico or anywhere. It doesn’t matter.”

She brought with her more than half a dozen toys with various problems, including high levels of lead, all bought in the area within the previous week.

“We found some at the Dollar Tree, but we also found items at Target, Toys ‘R’ Us and Meijer,” Rumsey said. “I bought these from all over the place.”

Donna Bucciarelli, trauma prevention coordinator and manager of Safety City, USA for Beaumont Hospitals, said annually they have children come to the hospital having ingested items.

“We’ve actually gone into lungs to get things out,” she said. “It’s a very invasive surgery, obviously. It’s never pleasant.”

Bucciarelli said it is important to pay close attention to those toys that make noise, including fake cell phones that are designed so a child can put their ear right up to it.

“Fifteen percent of kids up to 17 years old have some sort of hearing loss,” she said. “It’s really frightening to think about.”

While almost no parent has a decibel reader handy to be sure the toy is at the right sound level, she said parents can simply put the toy up their ear and if it seems at all loud, then it’s likely too loud for a small child.

PIRGIM also rolled out a new Web site for consumers to view dangerous toys. The site, www.toysafety.mobi, can be viewed on cell phones or computers. Consumers can also report toys they believe are dangerous to the advocacy group.

For more information, or to read the entire report on toy safety, visit www.toysafety.net.

You can reach Staff Writer Jeremy Carroll at jcarroll@candgnews.com or at (586) 279-1110.