Yo-Yo Balls
Monday September 8, 2003
More choking cases reported with water yo-yos
Rochester physician needs scissors to cut elastic cord from around his 5-year-old daughter's neck
CPB reminds parents of choking risk to children, especially those 4 to 8 years of age
The New York State Consumer Protection Board ("CPB") today reminded parents of the safety hazards posed by the popular "yo-yo water ball" after five more children across the country, including a five-year-old girl near Rochester, were nearly strangled by the toy's long elastic cord.
CPB Chairperson Teresa A. Santiago, said, "A pattern is developing here that is both good news and bad news. The bad news is that this seemingly-safe toy continues to be widely available and continues to be a serious health hazard to young children, especially those between four and eight years old.
"The good news is that each time this toy's long, elastic cord has become entangled around a small child's neck, a parent has been nearby to cut it off," said Chairperson Santiago. "We hope enough parents become aware of this potential hazard so children, especially those under 8, will be appropriately supervised if playing with this toy."
There have been five incidents in the past two months where children have been choked by a water yo-yo. The most recent in New York State occurred two weeks ago in Fairport when the five-year-old daughter of Dr. Marc Lande had the sticky, elastic cord wrap around her neck.
Dr. Lande, a pediatrician at Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong, had to use a pair of scissors to cut the cord from his child's neck.
"It happened in an instant," Dr. Lande said "The cord was wrapped so tightly around her neck, that it was impossible to pull off by hand. She could barely talk. I shudder to think what would have happened if I was not right there to intervene."
Like the other choking incidents, the yo-yo became twisted around the child's neck after she had been twirling it above her head.
The CPB issued its first warning about the yo-yo water balls in April. Based on similar consumer experiences, the CPB asked the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ("CPSC") to determine whether the toy should be removed from store shelves and banned from future sales. The CPSC is currently investigating the matter.
The state of Massachusetts, as well as Health Canada and the Canadian Toy Testing Council, recently issued public warnings against the toy. Some European countries have either banned or issued a warning against the toy.
"The cords on these yo-yos can be stretched to more than six feet and it can snap back with great force," said Chairperson Santiago. A girl on Staten Island suffered a bruised retina when she was hit by a water ball, while a five-year-old boy near South Bend, Indiana was seriously injured when the cord snapped back into his eye. The child's doctor said the boy could suffer permanent damage in his eye.
The water yo-yo that injured Dr. Lande's daughter was wrapped so tightly that it left a mark on her skin after he cut it off.
"Not only does this toy wrap around itself with great force, it also is sticky enough that it is nearly impossible to pull off once it's around a child's neck," said Chairperson Santiago. Dr. Lande said the cord was so tight that he first thought he would have to use a knife to get between her skin and the cord.
"With summer here, many parents are going to find these toys available for sale at county fairs and other outdoor functions," said Chairperson Santiago. "Parents should use great caution in allowing young children-- especially those between four and eight -- to use this toy."
Four to eight year olds have had trouble handling the toy because they have the strength to get the yo-yos moving very fast. In some cases, they have been unable to control the toy because of the tremendous force and momentum created by the toy's elastic bungee cord.
One of the leading importers of this toy recommends that it only be used by children eight years and older. Distributors have marked the product safe for children as young as three while others say no child under eight should use the toy.
Some yo-yo waterballs may also pose a toxic risk from the plastic ball. Laboratory tests have found that the plastic in some of the 30 varieties of water yo-yos is made from diesel hydrocarbons. They have a strong odor similar to gasoline.
This type of water yo-yo is flammable, a hazard for choking and may contain toxic materials, according to the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation said. Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan is also urging the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to recall the toys.
For more information:
Rochester physician needs scissors to cut elastic cord from around his 5-year-old daughter's neck
CPB reminds parents of choking risk to children, especially those 4 to 8 years of age
The New York State Consumer Protection Board ("CPB") today reminded parents of the safety hazards posed by the popular "yo-yo water ball" after five more children across the country, including a five-year-old girl near Rochester, were nearly strangled by the toy's long elastic cord.
CPB Chairperson Teresa A. Santiago, said, "A pattern is developing here that is both good news and bad news. The bad news is that this seemingly-safe toy continues to be widely available and continues to be a serious health hazard to young children, especially those between four and eight years old.
"The good news is that each time this toy's long, elastic cord has become entangled around a small child's neck, a parent has been nearby to cut it off," said Chairperson Santiago. "We hope enough parents become aware of this potential hazard so children, especially those under 8, will be appropriately supervised if playing with this toy."
There have been five incidents in the past two months where children have been choked by a water yo-yo. The most recent in New York State occurred two weeks ago in Fairport when the five-year-old daughter of Dr. Marc Lande had the sticky, elastic cord wrap around her neck.
Dr. Lande, a pediatrician at Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong, had to use a pair of scissors to cut the cord from his child's neck.
"It happened in an instant," Dr. Lande said "The cord was wrapped so tightly around her neck, that it was impossible to pull off by hand. She could barely talk. I shudder to think what would have happened if I was not right there to intervene."
Like the other choking incidents, the yo-yo became twisted around the child's neck after she had been twirling it above her head.
The CPB issued its first warning about the yo-yo water balls in April. Based on similar consumer experiences, the CPB asked the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ("CPSC") to determine whether the toy should be removed from store shelves and banned from future sales. The CPSC is currently investigating the matter.
The state of Massachusetts, as well as Health Canada and the Canadian Toy Testing Council, recently issued public warnings against the toy. Some European countries have either banned or issued a warning against the toy.
"The cords on these yo-yos can be stretched to more than six feet and it can snap back with great force," said Chairperson Santiago. A girl on Staten Island suffered a bruised retina when she was hit by a water ball, while a five-year-old boy near South Bend, Indiana was seriously injured when the cord snapped back into his eye. The child's doctor said the boy could suffer permanent damage in his eye.
The water yo-yo that injured Dr. Lande's daughter was wrapped so tightly that it left a mark on her skin after he cut it off.
"Not only does this toy wrap around itself with great force, it also is sticky enough that it is nearly impossible to pull off once it's around a child's neck," said Chairperson Santiago. Dr. Lande said the cord was so tight that he first thought he would have to use a knife to get between her skin and the cord.
"With summer here, many parents are going to find these toys available for sale at county fairs and other outdoor functions," said Chairperson Santiago. "Parents should use great caution in allowing young children-- especially those between four and eight -- to use this toy."
Four to eight year olds have had trouble handling the toy because they have the strength to get the yo-yos moving very fast. In some cases, they have been unable to control the toy because of the tremendous force and momentum created by the toy's elastic bungee cord.
One of the leading importers of this toy recommends that it only be used by children eight years and older. Distributors have marked the product safe for children as young as three while others say no child under eight should use the toy.
Some yo-yo waterballs may also pose a toxic risk from the plastic ball. Laboratory tests have found that the plastic in some of the 30 varieties of water yo-yos is made from diesel hydrocarbons. They have a strong odor similar to gasoline.
This type of water yo-yo is flammable, a hazard for choking and may contain toxic materials, according to the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation said. Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan is also urging the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to recall the toys.
For more information:
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