Summary

Introduction

Survey Findings

Choking Hazards

The Water Yo-Yo

Dangerously Loud Toys

Toxic Toys

Survey of Online Toy Retailers

Ineffective Toy Recalls

Loopholes in Toy Safety Legislation

Positive Trends in 2003

Survey Methodology

Attachments/Charts

Credits

The Water Yo-Yo

The yo-yo water ball – also sold under such names as the water yo-yo, yo-yo squeeze toy, yo-yo sports ball, yo-yo ball, flashing yo-yo ball, light-up yo-yo ball, yo-yo meteoric water ball, etc. – emerged in 2003 as the latest toy fad.

The toy is a liquid filled ball on a stretchy bungee cord string with a finger loop at the end, allowing a child to swing the toy around, stretching the string and bouncing it back like a yo-yo. The ball can be bounced, squeezed, squished and twirled like a lasso.

There are more than 30 types of yo-yo water balls made in China and Taiwan and sold in the United States by many different companies and in many different stores (iv). Based on information from industry sources, CPSC believes that over the last year, there have been approximately 11-15 million yo-yo ball toys distributed in the U.S., selling for between $1 and $5(v).

Consumer safety agencies around the world have fielded complaints from parents, reporting incidents in which water yo-yos wrapped tightly around their children’s necks or caused other injuries to the eyes, face and head. The CPSC has received more than 186 reports of incidents in which the yo-yo ball toy’s cord wrapped around a child’s neck (vi). The cord is made of a rubbery plastic, which extends four feet and makes the yo-yo ball difficult to control, because the water ball at the end of the toy is heavy enough to generate significant momentum when swung. Children between ages 4 and 8 may be most vulnerable to injury, since they have the strength to swing the yo-yo quickly but may lack the dexterity to control the toy’s momentum. Consumer Reports tested more than a dozen of these toys, deeming the toy “Not Acceptable” because of the potential for the cord to wrap around a child’s neck and restrict or cut off circulation. Consumer Reports also found that the elastic finger loop could stretch enough to fit over a child’s head and around his or her neck (vii).

Moreover, some studies have found that the yo-yo ball may be flammable and that the contents of the water ball pose a toxic hazard. Tests commissioned by the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation found that the plastic exterior of certain water yo-yos may be made from diesel hydrocarbons. Scientist Jim Polansky noted that the ball caught fire instantly when exposed to a flame from a lighter (viii). Consumer Reports found that the balls burn aggressively when held over a candle flame (ix).

In April 2003, the New York Consumer Protection Board asked retailers to pull water yo-yos from their shelves and called on the CPSC to recall the toy (x). The toy has been banned for sale in Canada, France, Switzerland, Australia and the United Kingdom (xi). Some major retailers, including Toys “R” Us, Walgreens and Saks, have stopped selling the toy (xii).

Despite the studies indicating that the toy is unsafe, the numerous reports of injuries and the actions taken and recommendations made by other countries, major toy retailers, the New York State Consumer Protection Board and a number of consumer advocacy organizations, the water yo-yo remains on the shelves of stores all over New York State. In September 2003, the CPSC announced their decision not to recall the product (xiii). NYPIRG calls upon the CPSC to reconsider its decision not to recall the yo-yo water ball. At a minimum, the CPSC should recall the yo-yo ball and issue a moratorium on sales until manufacturers label their products with the following warning:

WARNING: Improper use of this toy can lead to strangulation and other bodily injury to the eyes, face and head; not suitable for children under 8 years old.

NEXT: Dangerously Loud Toys