Blumenthal
HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal announced on Tuesday that he has asked the Consumer Products Safety Commission to probe the increase of toy-related injuries that have occurred over the last five years.
Since 2005, toy-related child injuries requiring emergency room visits have increased 25 percent, Blumenthal says.
"The startling upsurge in emergency room visits for toy-related injuries - 25 percent since 2005 - is deeply disturbing, requiring further analysis and study," Blumenthal said.
The CPSC recently released its toy safety report, which showed that 18,000 more children under the age of five visited emergency rooms for toy-related injuries in 2009 than in 2005.
"With the holidays upon us, parents and regulators need to know why toys are sending more and more kids-especially those under 5-to emergency rooms," Blumenthal said. "This increase is intolerable-turning playtime into hospital time."
Blumenthal also asked the CPSC to make recommendations to help reduce the numbers in the years ahead.
"I am calling on CPSC to investigate and identify the reasons for this significant rise in serious injuries involving toys," Blumenthal said. "CPSC must use its findings for recommendations, which may include tougher regulation and better parent education."