Halpin: Annual Toy Safety Guide a Great Resource to Keep Kids Safe During Holiday Season

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – As local families begin their holiday shopping, state Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, is encouraging parents and caregivers to avoid purchasing potentially dangerous products for their children and to use available resources to take appropriate precautions when giving fidget spinners and other toys with small pieces that can be choking hazards.

“Some of the most popular gifts on the market can be potentially hazardous for young children because of small, detachable pieces or electronic components that can overheat and cause burns,” said Halpin. “Before doing any holiday shopping, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the items that have been recalled this year, just in case any make their way onto store shelves.”

To help ensure a safe and happy holiday season, Halpin recommends that parents read through this year’s toy safety guide, released annually by the attorney general’s office. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the guide, which includes information about toys that have been recalled due to safety hazards as well as safety tips about toys and games that pose a choking hazard for young children. Since January, there have been 68 recalls of children’s products by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and Halpin is advising parents to be cautious when buying gifts both in-store and from second-hand sellers and websites like eBay.

“Second-hand sellers might not be aware of safety issues with products that are already in their homes, so it’s important for online shoppers to watch out for toys and games that were previously recalled as well as items that were recalled over the past year,” said Halpin. “The attorney general’s annual safe shopping guide is a helpful resource to avoid dangerous children’s products, and I highly recommend that parents review it this holiday season.”

Attorney General Madigan’s 2017 Safe Shopping Guide can be found here. For more information about recalled products, residents can contact the Recall Hotline at 1-888-414-7678 or sign up to receive recall alerts directly at recalls.gov.