14 September 2006
The Trading Standards Institute in the UK today issued a nationwide alert about inflatable toy yo-yos that could injure - or even kill - a child.
Trading standards in Jersey are now urging retailers and parents to look out for the 'Pump-It-Up Air Yo-Yo', which includes an inch-long needle and syringe used to inflate the toy.
Around 30 yo-yos have been seized by Northamptonshire County Council's trading standards officers after the alarm was raised by the father of an 11-year-old boy who had bought one.
It is feared that a child could spear themselves with the needle - and it could be lethal if they used the syringe to inject air into their body.
Northamptonshire County Council has issued a notice to the London-based importers of the product suspending the supply or sale of the yo-yos to any other outlet.
Alison de Bourcier at Trading Standards said 'The needle and syringe intended to inflate these yo-yos look horrific and there is a real danger they could injure or even kill a child.
The 'Pump It Up Air Yo-Yo', made in China, was found on sale at 'pocket money prices' - between £1 and £1.99 each - in the UK last week. We are currently visiting all Jersey toy retailers, as are our Guernsey counterparts, to establish if any were sold locally"
The yo-yos, which are on a length of elastic, are about the size of a golfball and the needle and syringe are meant to be used to inflate them.
Northamptonshire trading standards officers are now making further enquiries with the importer of the toy to find out how many more may now be on sale - and where.
'In the meantime it is vital that we warn children and parents to beware of these toys and to notify us at Trading Standards if they see them on sale anywhere'.
'There is a very real danger that the needle could stick into a child and, as it would not be sterile, the resulting injury could become infected".
'It could be even more dangerous - even fatal - if the needle was used to inject air into a child's bloodstream".
Northamptonshire are continuing their investigation and have issued the importers with the suspension notice under the Consumer Protection Act.
For further information contact :
Alison de Bourcier
Deputy Chief Trading Standards Officer
Tel (01534) 705562 Fax (01534) 766475 E-mail a.debourcier@gov.je
gov.je