The following safety tips will help consumers choose appropriate toys:

• 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.
• Look for sturdy construction, such as tightly-secured eyes, noses and other potential small parts.
• For all children under 8, avoid toys that have sharp edges and points.
• Do not purchase electric toys with heating elements for children under 8.
• Be a label reader. Look for toy labels that give age and safety recommendations and use that information as a guide.
• Check toy instructions for clarity - for both you and, when appropriate, the child.
• Immediately discard plastic wrappings on toys, which can cause suffocation, before they become deadly playthings.

To further reduce deaths and injuries, and to quickly get the word out about consumer safety issues, Stratton today announced the launch of the Neighborhood Safety Network (NSN). NSN is a web-based grassroots initiative aimed at delivering lifesaving information to hard-to-reach consumers.

"The Neighborhood Safety Network will get important safety information to older Americans, urban and rural low-income families, new parents and minority groups," said Stratton.

The AAP is supporting the renewed federal push to increase recall effectiveness. "As a longtime partner of the CPSC on toy safety issues, the AAP has been working with the agency on the NSN project since the recall of children's lead jewelry last summer," said Dr. Smith. "Pediatricians are using CPSC safety posters in their offices to ensure that their patients receive this information."

Another important component of the Neighborhood Safety Network is close cooperation with state consumer safety departments across the nation. "We welcome CPSC's effort to reach vulnerable populations with safety information, because increased awareness can help reduce deaths and injuries," said Zettel.

Other partners in the Neighborhood Safety Network include the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service, National SAFE KIDS Coalition, Meals on Wheels, and Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

Community groups and individual consumers can download the new holiday safety poster and sign up to receive all NSN safety and recall information at the CPSC Web site at www.cpsc.gov, or by calling CPSC's Hotline toll-free at (800) 638-2772.

Consumers also should check that their gift lists do not include any of the recalled toys or children's products on CPSC's checklist.

Source: CPSC November 22, 2004, Release # 05-054