CPSC has the most stringent toy safety standards in the world, and toys on store shelves are safe because of the day-to-day compliance work by CPSC.  In fiscal year 1998, CPSC obtained 120 toy and children's product recalls involving more than 5.9 million product units to help prevent tragic injuries and deaths.  CPSC recently topped the number of units recalled in all of the last fiscal year by obtaining one of the largest toy recalls in the agency's history.  In October 1998, CPSC and Fisher-Price recalled about 10 million Power Wheels Ride-On Battery-Powered Vehicles.

Consumers can help prevent toy-related injuries and deaths by always reading labels and being safety conscious.  The following tips will help consumers choose appropriate toys this holiday season and all year round:

• Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills, and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards to younger children.
• For infants, toddlers, and all children who still mouth objects, avoid toys with small parts which could pose a fatal choking hazard.
• For all children under age 8, avoid toys that have sharp edges and points.
• Do not purchase electric toys with heating elements for children under age 8.
• Be a label reader. Look for labels that give age recommendations and use that information as a guide.
• Look for sturdy construction, such as tightly secured eyes, noses, and other potential small parts.
• Check instructions for clarity. They should be clear to you, and when appropriate, to the child.
• Discard plastic wrappings on toys immediately, which can cause suffocation, before they become deadly playthings.

By using common sense and these safety suggestions, holiday shoppers can make informed decisions when purchasing toys for children.