Fidget Spinners May Be Popular, But Are They Dangerous?

These days, kids can’t seem to keep their hands off fidget spinners, stress-relieving toys touted as tools to help those with autism or ADHD focus. But, according to news reports, a slew of injuries involving these toys are prompting parents to call on manufacturers to pull these dangerous toys off the shelves. One parent Johely Morelos said her 5-year-old son Cayden popped off a piece of the spinner and swallowed it. The piece he swallowed had to be surgically removed. The mom talked about how doctors put a tube in Cayden’s throat and he threw up blood.

In another case, Carol Woods, a Missouri-based mom, said her 3-year-old son was injured after a piece of the spinner got lodged on his middle finger. She had to rush her son to the emergency room where doctors had to use two to three different tools before finally cutting the metal piece off.

CPSC’s Investigation

After getting several reports of children getting injured by these fidget spinners, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced that they are launching an investigation into the safety of these products. The agency has specifically said it is looking into incidents where children have followed the fidget spinners in Texas and Oregon. They are advising parents to keep these devices away from young children to whom they could pose a choking hazard.

Safety experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute who took a closer look at these toys explained that these types of injures occur because many fidget spinners in the market are not properly labeled with age ratings or choking hazard warnings for children. CPSC requires toys marketed for children to be properly labeled if they pose choking dangers. The institute found that both branded and knock-off spinners broke into pieces posing choking hazards for young children.

Fidget Spinner Safety Tips

Here are a few tips to keep your children safe as they play with these or other toys:

• Check for any small parts that could come loose or break. If the toy or toy parts fit through a toilet paper roll, they are not suitable for young children.
• Get rid of broken toys. These could pose choking hazards and lead to laceration or other injuries.
• Check the recommended age rating on toys to make sure they are appropriate for your children.
• If there is no warning on the toy being tested, be sure you supervise your children as they play with them.
• Register your product. This way, you’ll know if the product has been recalled.
• If you have any problems with a toy or product, contact CPSC and notify them about it.

If you or a loved one has been injured due to a dangerous or defective product, contact an experienced product defect lawyer to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights.