The impact of specific toy warning labels

Article Abstract:

Over 140,000 children are injured annually in toy-related accidents. About half of the annual toy-related deaths in 1988 (11 of 22 deaths) resulted from inhalation of or choking caused by small toys or small parts of toys. The 1980 Consumer Products Safety Commission, or CPSC, ''small parts'' standard prohibits the manufacture and marketing of toys with small parts to children under three years of age. To comply with this standard, toy manufacturers frequently place labels on the packaging indicating the age group for which the toys are intended; however, references to the contents of the package are optional, and safety implications of the packaging suggestions are infrequently included. Hence, the labels are often interpreted solely as guidelines for the level of intellectual sophistication required to use the toy. To determine the extent to which toy buyers understand the labels, and the degree to which their buying behavior would be altered by more strongly worded labels, a survey was carried out in a Baltimore shopping mall. Passers-by were asked whether they had purchased a toy for a child between the ages of one and three in the past year; if so, they were invited to participate in the survey. Respondents were shown two similar toy fire engines, one of single-piece construction with no detachable small parts intended for children under three years, and another with nine small parts that was designed as a construction toy to be taken apart and put together, and was targeted for children between four and seven years. Participants were shown three different labels of increasingly strong wording, the most direct of which clearly said that the toy contained small parts (''Not recommended for below 3-small parts''). After viewing each label, participants were asked whether they would purchase that toy for children under the age of three, and the reasons for their decision. When shown the mildest warning, 77 percent of the potential buyers said they would purchase the simpler toy; 63 percent of these mentioned safety as a reason. Changing the wording of the label had a dramatic effect on predicted buying behavior; the label with safety information would discourage 92 percent of the participants from buying the more complex toy for a child under three years of age. Hence, a change in the CPSC standard to require more specific labeling might significantly reduce the purchase of toys that pose a health hazard for very young children. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Psychological aspects, Health aspects, Laws, regulations and rules, Consumer protection, Prevention, Labeling, Toys, Safety regulations, Children's accidents

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Behaviors related to unintentional, intentional injuries, high school students - United States, 1991

Article Abstract:

Injuries are a major cause of death in US teenagers. A survey of 12,272 US high school students in 50 states and the District of Columbia found that 27% had thought of suicide, 42% had been in a fight during the year preceding the survey and 26% carried a weapon. Women were more likely to attempt suicide and men were more likely to fight and carry a weapon. Only 22% of the students always used a seat belt when riding in a car, and only 36% of motorcyclists always wore a helmet. Some of the objectives of Healthy People 2000 are to reduce the incidence of suicide attempts among adolescents by 15%, the incidence of fighting by 20% and the incidence of weapon-carrying by 20%. Few high schools have met these goals. Another goal is to increase the use of seat belts. These goals can be accomplished by legislation, but teenagers also need to learn ways of solving problems that do not involve violence.

Behavior, Statistics, High school students, Hand-to-hand fighting, Hand to hand fighting

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Unpowered Scooter-Related Injuries-United States, 1998-2000

Article Abstract:

About 27,600 people riding on un-powered scooters were injured between January and October 2000, according to data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. These lightweight, aluminum scooters were introduced in 2000, and quickly became very popular. Children should wear helmets, elbow pads and knee pads when riding one.

Accidents, Scooters

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