Yo-Yo Water Ball Toy Is Considered Dangerous
January 5, 2008
Parents have reported incidents of strangulation and claim that the liquid is toxic or flammable. A 2003 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission investigation found low risk of strangulation and no toxicity or flammability concerns. But incidents continued and this week, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine signed a bill prohibiting the sale of this toy in the state.
The toy has been blamed for injuring hundreds of children nationwide and has already been banned in Canada, Britain, France, Switzerland and Australia. Per the bill’s co-sponsor: “Yo-Yo Waterballs are a commercialized death threat to our children.”
I’ve played with these things for years but never heard until now that there was a risk. Yo-yo water balls are made of rubber-like material and consist of a liquid-filled ball with a stretchy cord that has a small finger loop at the end. They’re squishy and stretchy and my kids occasionally bring them home from birthday parties or carnivals.
Please check out all the different water yo-yo shapes and sizes to familiarize yourself with the toy.
-BD
Related Links:
- Children’s Toy to be Banned in New Jersey
- Dangers of Water Yo-Yo’s
- CPSC Announces Results of Investigation of Yo-Yo Water Ball Toys
5/30/08 5 year old daughter, NJ, strangled by yo yo waterball! It is banned in our state, was given to numerous children at a school fair and we need to get this toy NATIONALLY BANNED!!!! Any advise you may have I would greatly appreciate!
Ellen Blacker
Follow-up on Yo Yo Waterballs.
Update: I found this 06/05/2008 post on YourLawyer.com.
Did you know the Consumer Product Safety Commission advises that drawstrings on hooded sweat shirts are a strangulation hazard. Strange how something so ordinary can cause a similar hazard like this yo yo waterball.
As always, parents need to be ever vigilant and take toys away that are not age-appropriate or generally unsafe.