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Toy Recalls Are Keeping Salvation Army Busy

JULIE BUSCH / The Tampa Tribune

A Salvation Army volunteer looks through donated toys for any that might be recalled.

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 27, 2007

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Special Section: Toy Recalls

ST PETERSBURG - Concerned about toys tainted with toxic lead paint or with small parts that can lodge in a toddler's throat, the Salvation Army this morning mustered a handful of volunteers to go through all donated toys earmarked as holiday gifts for needy children.

Peering at the packaged toys, some of which were donated and some of which were purchased with donated money, Beulah Samples leafed through the recall list. Today, it was her Bible. Weeding out dangerous toys was her mission.

"You think about the ultimate goal," she said, "to keep some kid from having a problem especially around Christmastime."

Inside the cavernous gymnasium at the Salvation Army's south Pinellas County headquarters, the labor continued all morning. Tables were set up, and bags and bags of toys sat on them. Most passed muster. None were found, by midmorning, to be on the recall list. Some were suspected, Maj. Esther Satterlee said.

If there is a question, a toy will be pulled, she said, but only after "we put our heads together on it."

After all, they don't want to deny a child of a cool toy.

Volunteers look closely at toys made in China, where many on the recall list were manufactured.

"We may end up saying that anything made in China will be pulled," she said.

Having to do weeding "is a huge additional headache," she said.

Extra volunteers were needed, and it was not easy getting them so near the holidays, she said.

There are nearly 2,200 needy children on the list to get Salvation Army gift packages, spokeswoman Janet McGuire said. This is the first year the organization has set up an "Angel Tree" at Tyrone Square Mall that has tags with the names of all the kids. Shoppers pick a nametag and buy presents for that child, shipping the gifts through the Salvation Army.

Of the 2,200 tags, about 825 remain on the tree, she said. If people don't pick those tags, the Salvation Army may have to buy toys for those children, McGuire said, and that means more toys to sift through with a recall list in hand.

In years past, there never was a concern about dangerous toys, but potentially harmful toys were taken off the store shelves across the country because they have easy-to-swallow parts or are coated in lead paint.

The massive recalls have sparked a national debate over safety standards for products produced primarily in China.

"Parents and family members must be vigilant in shopping for their toys this holiday season, whether it's made in China or not," U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa said in a recent interview.

She has co-sponsored bills that would increase government oversight of toys and other products.

Suspected toys include baby dolls with tiny parts, metallic jewelry and excessively loud guitars. Consumer watchdog groups also have criticized the lack of independent safety testing and the continued availability of dangerous toys in stores.

Those groups point to 2005, when tainted toys sent nearly 73,000 children younger than 5 to hospital emergency rooms. Twenty died from these toy-related injuries, according to government statistics. Two main concerns have risen: toys with small pieces that can become lodged in a child's throat causing choking and ingestion of toxic materials used in making the toys.

Other key hazards mentioned by various groups include: scooters, bicycles, riding toys and skateboards that could lead to dangerous falls; projectile toys such as air rockets, darts and sling slots; and chargers and adapters that can pose burn hazards.

The use of lead-based paint in toys manufactured in China has drawn most of the attention over the summer. Lead-based paint is banned in the United States, but has been found this year in millions of Chinese-made toys.

Recalled toys this year have included ceramic tea sets, plastic bats and balls, and a slew of other toys.

This is the first year the Salvation Army has had to compare donated toys against a recall list, McGuire said.

"It's not been an issue until this year," she said.

"The list just keeps growing and growing and growing," she said as she watched the volunteers sift through piles and piles of toys.

SAFETY TIPS

Here are toy safety tips from the Consumer Product Safety Commission as the holiday season approaches:

•Look for toy labels that give age and safety recommendations, and use that information as a guide.

•Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child.

•For children younger than 3, avoid toys with small parts that could cause choking.

•For children younger than 6, avoid sets with small magnets that could cause serious injury or death if swallowed.

•For children younger than 8, avoid toys with sharp edges and points.

•Helmets and safety gear should fit properly and be worn by children using riding toys such as skateboards or in-line skates.

•Improper use of projectile toys such as rockets or darts could result in serious eye injuries. These toys are for older children.

•Battery chargers and adapters can pose a burn hazard for children. Adults should supervise the charging of batteries and pay attention to warnings on chargers.

•Immediately discard plastic wrappings on toys.

•Keep toys for older children away from younger children.

•Stay informed by signing up to receive direct e-mail notification of recalls at www.cpsc.gov.

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