Toxic toys targeted Toy-related perils include choking, hearing impairment, poisoning and strangulation By Monique Balas News-Chronicle As you venture into the toy store jungles to do your holiday shopping this year, take some time to find out which toys are naughty and which ones are nice. That's what representatives from Public Interest Research groups are hoping parents - and anyone shopping for young children - will do when they pluck plaything off the shelves for their youngsters. Each year, the group puts out a report on the safety of the nation's toys. Its annual "Trouble in Toyland" report provides safety guidelines for buying toys and gives examples of dangerous toys on the market discovered by PIRG researchers. Thanks to increased toy-making guidelines, "American toys are safer than ever before," said Ali Andreasen of the group's Wisconsin's chapter. "Nevertheless, as parents venture into crowded malls, they should remain vigilant about the hazards posed by toys on store shelves." Andreasen was in Green Bay this week to discuss highlights of the report in the pediatric unit at Bellin Hospital. Last year, about 212,000 people sought treatment at an emergency room for toy-related injuries. About one-third of them were under five years old, and 13 children died from their injuries. Andreasen said choking is one of the biggest hazards posed by toys. Innocent, common playtoys ranging from doll shoes to balloon parts can be fatal to curious toddlers who can choke on the parts. The Consumer Product Safety Commission uses a 1.75-inch-diameter cylinder used as a choke test-tube to determine choking hazards. If a part breaks off and fits inside the tube, it could end up in a much more hazardous place - a child's throat. Andreasen urged parents to use their own "choke tube": The cardboard tube from an empty toilet paper roll, which is slightly bigger than the test cylinder. Choking is the primary toy-related injury that brings kids to the emergency room, said Dr. Joseph Kellner, a pediatrician with Bellin. But it's not the only danger. "Toygivers must be aware of the dangers posed by loud toys," Andreasen said. Toys shouldn't exceed 90 decibels at a distance of 25 centimeters, but the PIRG report found some play cell phones and electronic toys are louder than that, which could impair a child's hearing. Another danger is water yo-yo balls, liquid-filled balls attached to strings that can wrap around a child's neck when it's swung lasso-like overhead. The advocacy group is calling on the Consumer Product Safety Commission for the recall of this product, which has been banned in Canada, France and the United Kingdom. And toys containing chemicals known as phthalates, such as rubber ducks and nail polish marketed toward kids, can cause permanent damage to children's nervous systems and may result in birth defects. "Play is our children's work and these are their tools," Kellner said. By examining children's tools and enforcing safety, parents and health-care workers need to play the role groups like Occupational Safety and Health Administration play in ensuring safety of the nation's laborers, he said. Kellner said the holiday season can be a busy time for emergency rooms because parents may be distracted with other things. "At about the age of 6 months, the bottom line is, you have to watch your children continuously," Kellner said. "It's amazing how innovative they (kids) can be to get something in their mouth." FYI: Read the annual Public Interest Research Group's "Trouble in Toyland" report at www.toysafety.net. Visit www. recalls.gov to see which toys are on a recall list by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, or visit the commission's full Web site at www.cpsc.gov for more information.