Massive Polly Pocket Recall

[meloneyb21]

Sorry if this has already been posted:

http://cbs3.com/consumer/local_story_325063212.html

4.4 Million Polly Pocket Playsets Recalled

(AP) WASHINGTON Mattel Inc. is recalling 4.4 million Polly Pocket magnetic play sets after three children were hospitalized with serious injuries from swallowing tiny magnets that fell off the toys, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Tuesday.

Polly Pockets are the best-selling miniature dolls in the world.

As the holiday gift-buying season approaches, the commission is urging shoppers to avoid buying toy sets with small magnets for children under age 6. Gift buyers also should check the toy labels, select age-appropriate toys and avoid gifts with sharp edges and small parts.

The commission said it received 170 reports of the small magnets falling out of or from the dolls and accessories in the Polly Pocket sets. Each of the three injured children swallowed more than one magnet and suffered intestinal perforation that required surgery.

Sara Rosales, vice president of communications at Mattel, said the company is working with others in the toy industry, consumer advocates and the government "to make appropriate revisions to the U.S. toy standard to prevent such issues in the future," Rosales said.

The Polly Pocket play sets contain plastic dolls and accessories featuring small magnets measuring 1/8 inch in diameter. The magnets are embedded in the hands and feet of the dolls, plastic clothing, hair pieces and other accessories that attach to the dolls.

The tiny magnets can fall out and be swallowed or inhaled by children. If more than one magnet is swallowed, they can attach to each other and cause intestinal perforation, infection or blockage, which can be fatal.

The recall applies to about 2.4 million sets that were manufactured before April 1, 2005 and sold at department stores and toy stores in the United States from May 2003 through September 2006. They cost between $15 and $30. It also affects another 2 million Polly Pocket play sets were sold worldwide.

Tuesday's recall does not include sets currently on store shelves.

The recalled Polly Pocket brand sets include: Polly Place Hangin' Out House, Polly Place Treetop Clubhouse, Spa Day, Quik-Clik Boutique, Quik-Clik City Pretty Playset, Quik-Clik Sporty Style Playset and Totally Zen Playset. Polly Totally brand Polly Place Totally Tiki Diner sets are also being recalled.

On The Early Show Tuesday, the CPSC's Julie Vallese told co-anchor Hannah Storm parents should take the play sets involved away from their kids immediately, and check play areas and floors for the magnets.

The commission said consumers should contact Mattel to arrange for the return of the toy and to receive a voucher for a replacement toy. For more information about the recall, contact Mattel at 888-597-6597 or visit http://www.service.mattel.com or http://www.cpsc.gov.

Last March, another toy company, Mega Brands Inc., recalled 3.8 million Magnetix magnetic building sets after one child died and four others were seriously injured after swallowing tiny magnets in them.

In 2005, there were 20 toy-related deaths and 152,400 toy-related injuries involving children under age 15. The majority of injuries were sustained from riding toys.


DETAILS ON PLAY SETS BEING RECALLED:

Polly Pocket Magnetic Play Sets Model
Polly Pocket! Polly Place Hangin’ Out House B2632
Polly Pocket! Polly Place Treetop Clubhouse B3158
Polly Pocket! Spa Day B3201
Polly Totally! Polly Place Totally Tiki Diner B7118
Polly Pocket! Quik-Clik Boutique G8605
Polly Pocket! Quik-Clik City Pretty Playset H1537
Polly Pocket! Quik-Clik Sporty Style Playset H1538
Polly Pocket! Totally Zen Playset H3211

 

[Xcited4Disney]

Thank you.

 

[Zoemakes5]

Am I the only one that finds this recall a bit ridiculous? All polly pockets have tiny, itty bitty parts that make it inappropriate for children who would be putting things in their mouths to be playing with it. One wouldn't need a magnet falling off for there to be at least a dozen pieces (little shoes, hats, accessories, etc.) for a child to put in their mouths and choke on. There is a choking warning on the boxes. The magnet issue may up the ante a bit, but it but I've heard warnings about perforations from swallowed objects, generally.

 

[blessedby3]

Am I the only one that finds this recall a bit ridiculous? All polly pockets have tiny, itty bitty parts that make it inappropriate for children who would be putting things in their mouths to be playing with it. One wouldn't need a magnet falling off for there to be at least a dozen pieces (little shoes, hats, accessories, etc.) for a child to put in their mouths and choke on. There is a choking warning on the boxes. The magnet issue may up the ante a bit, but it but I've heard warnings about perforations from swallowed objects, generally.

I was thinking the same thing when I saw it. Everything Polly Pocket is a choking hazard (pretty much!)

 

[floridafam]

I'm not surprised by the recall and I'm glad they are doing it. It is a little more serious than if it were just a choking hazard. If the child swallows 2 magnets and they cause a blockage the result can be death.

Magnetix just had a similar recall a few months ago, I think.

 

[disneysteve]

Magnetix just had a similar recall a few months ago, I think.

Yep, that was was equally ridiculous. If parents are going to let their kids play with age-inappropriate toys, bad things are going to happen. I certainly don't want to see any kids injured, but it isn't the toy company's fault if the product gets misused, and it certainly isn't a valid reason to recall the product. I remember the thread after the Magnetix recall and I think most posters said they had no intention of returning the product or taking it away from their kids, because they were kids who were of the right age to use it safely. People are always looking for someone to blame other than themselves.

 

[cats mom]

We have our fair share of Polly Pocket toys and I'm not even going to bother with checking to see if any of ours are included in the recall.
But even my youngest knows better than to put toys in her mouth.


I do have to say I was surprised that 2 of the children injured were a 7 and a 8 year old.
Go figure.

See below from the consumer product safety commission;




Incidents/Injuries: CPSC is aware of 170 reports of the small magnets coming out of these recalled toys. There were three reports of serious injuries to children who swallowed more than one magnet. All three suffered intestinal perforations that required surgery. A 2-year-old child was hospitalized for seven days and a 7-year-old child was hospitalized for 12 days. An 8-year-old child was also hospitalized.

 

[disneysteve]

But even my youngest knows better than to put toys in her mouth.


I do have to say I was surprised that 2 of the children injured were a 7 and a 8 year old.

Certainly, a 2 year old shouldn't have been playing with those toys, but a 7 and 8 year old should know better. But again, you can't recall a product just because it has the potential to be misused. Look how many kids swallow coins every year. Should we ban pennies and dimes? Unfortunately, we can't make the world safe for everyone all the time, and we could go crazy trying.