Choking Hazards
Toys and other child care products create a massive manufacturing and distributing industry which relies on the appeal of new products on a seasonal basis to give one company a sales edge over another. This generally means pushing out the newest and flashiest looking new toy or product that will fly off the shelves before a competitor's product does, with an enormous amount of pressure to get a product through the development, testing, and approval processes quickly.
With all these factors working together, it is no surprise that dangerous products sometimes get released onto the market, such as toys and products with small removable parts which pose a choking risk to small children. Choking is one of the leading causes of accidental injury in small children, and in severe cases may result in untimely death.
Common Choking Risks
Toys and products with removable parts which are small enough to swallow but large enough to become lodged in the throat can easily become a choking hazard to children, and it is essential that any child product that creates such a risk be labeled for an age group it is appropriate for. A small child may be put at risk in any of the following ways:
- Balloons which are un-inflated or under-inflated
- Marbles and other small spherical objects
- Packing materials and plastic bags
- Removable parts
- Parts which can be easily broken off
When one of these products ends up in the hands of a small child, there is a very real risk of a choking accident and injury. As recently articulated by a seasoned Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer, in such situations, it may be appropriate to seek compensation from the negligent party responsible for the injury.