“These recent toy recalls are outrageous and inexcusable,” said Attorney Michelle Quinn, who heads the Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn, PC, Foundation for Children’s Advocacy, also known as HKQ Kids. “Manufacturers and government regulators are clearly asleep at the switch.”

Attorney Quinn, who also serves on the Pennsylvania Joint State Commission’s Advisory Committee for Child Safety, made her comments on the heels of a recall Tuesday by Mattel 

of 9 million Chinese-made toys that contained toxic lead paint or tiny magnets that can cause choking and other health problems. Since 2003, the magnets have been caused one child’s death and required in surgeries on 19 others. 

“The Mattel recall is the tip of the iceberg,” said Quinn, who monitors child product recalls daily in her role as head of HKQ Kids. “In recent months, there have been a startling number of recalls, including many of the most popular toys like Barbie Dolls, Thomas & Friends trains, Polly Pockets and Tickle Me Elmo. It’s really disturbing because these products are in toy boxes all across America, and many parents probably don’t even realize they’re dangerous.”

Many recent recalls have arisen from American toy companies buying their products from Chinese manufacturers. In the case of the Thomas & Friends toys, children’s jewelry and a recent Fischer price recall of 83 types of plastic preschool toys, including Big Bird, Elmo and Dora figures, it was discovered Chinese manufacturers had used lead-based paint in the products.

Given the trend toward manufacturing toys in China, Quinn said, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has to be more aggressive in making sure American companies comply with the law by testing and checking the safety of their products before they are put on the market in the United States.

“It’s simply not enough to recall dangerous and toxic toys after kids have already been exposed,” said Quinn, a partner in the law firm of Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn, Kingston. “They should never reach store shelves in the first place. Somebody has to step up and take responsibility.”

Quinn offered a number of suggestions and resources to help parents prevent exposure to toxic or dangerous toys:

• Information about the latest toy recalls and product numbers can be found on this web site by clicking on the "Toy Recalls" link or on the CPSC web site at www.cpsc.gov.  Go through your child’s toys and make sure they don’t include any of the recalled items.

• A complete list of recalled Mattel and Fischer Price toys, including playsets, Polly Pockets, Barbie Doll and Tanner, Pixar “Cars” characters, Batman and others can be found at http://service.mattel.com/us/recall.asp 

• If you believe your child may have been exposed to lead, see your doctor for a blood lead screening. A blood-lead level higher than 10 can affect a child’s ability to learn. A level of 150 or higher can be lethal.
  
  For children on Medical Assistance, free lead screening can be obtained through the Pennsylvania Children's Checkup (EPSDT) Program. You can find more information about the program online at:
  http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/Child/ChildCheckUps/003671548.htm 

• Follow these simple safety guidelines when selecting toys for children:
  
  o Read all labels and select toys according to the recommended age guidelines.
  o Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child.
  o For children under 3, avoid toys with small parts that can cause choking.
  o For children under 8, avoid toys with sharp edges and electric toys with heating parts.