Toy safety awareness among parents

Sejauh mana agaknya kesedaran tentang alat mainan kanak-kanak di kalangan ibu bapa di Malaysia? Soalan ini tiba-tiba terkeluar dari kotak pemikiran apabila menonton berita TV Singapore (Channel 5; 9.30pm, 13 July 2011). Kerajaan Singapore bersama badan bertindak SPRING Singapore (Safe Authority) sedang melaksanakan tindakan undang-undang bagi pengeluar barang mainan yang tidak menepati standard piawaian yang SPRING tetapkan. Bagi pengeluar yang degil dan masih menjual barang mainan di bawah standard yang ditetapkan akan di hukum $10000 atau penjara 2 tahun, atau kedua-duanya sekali. Dari pengamatan penulis Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE), Singapore Toys & Confectionery Dealers’ Association, Federation of Merchants’ Associations, Singapore and Singapore Retailers Association sebulat suara untuk memberikan kerjasama dengan kerajaan mereka untuk menepati piawaian yang ditetapkan demi keselamatan generasi akan datang.

Bagaimana dengan Malaysia? Setelah membuat beberapa pembacaan, di dapati Malaysia telah pun membuat New Malaysian Safety Requirement yang di gazettekan pada July 2009. Wow! Agak memeranjatkan...penulis ketinggalan zaman rupanya. Tahniah! Tetapi persoalannya, sejauh mana penguatkuasaannya? Adakah alatan mainan yang dijual di pasaran di uji keselamatannya dari masa ke masa? Apakah keputusan ujian? Barangan yang mana dikategorikan sebagai BAHAYA? Penulis telah melawat laman web Persatuan Pengguna-pengguna Standard Malaysia tetapi tidak mendapat statistik yang di cari-cari malah ujian yang dijalankan ke atas barangan mainan yang dijual di pasaran pun penulis tidak menemukan...

"The Star, 11 Jan 2011-The Government had confirmed it would not compromise anymore on this matter as the toy manufacturers and importers had been given ample time, more than a year, to adhere to the safety standards. They should comply with the order and not ask for any more extension of enforcement. There is a solution to clearing the unlabelled stock – recycle them into other products. Consumers have waited a long time to see the standards implemented. Do not disappoint them again." (Bak kata Nabil, Lu pikirlah sendiri!)

Bunyinya seperti berat sebelah tetapi penulis masih belum mendapat statistik yang sebenar tentang alatan mainan di pasaran Malaysia. Penulis ingin berkongsi beberapa statistik Singapore: Pada June/July 2011, SPRING telah menguji 200 alatan mainan yang dijual di pasaran Singapore dan mendapati 20% iaitu 39 dari alatan mainan tersebut dikategorikan sebagai BAHAYA! Gambar alatan mainan yang dikategorikan bahaya di paparkan kepada umum sebagai langkah pencegahan pembelian. Bagus kan? Tidak perlu sorok-sorok...kongsikan dengan pengguna kan lebih manfaat! 

Ok cukuplah menuding jari...mari kita positifkan diri dan perbaiki diri. Buat pengetahuan semua antara alatan mainan yang dikategorikan bahaya ini MURAH (bahan buatan murah), MUDAH DIDAPATI (kerana tidak perlu melepasi standard yang ditetapkan) dan MADE IN CHINA (I mean China-made-toys=tenaga buruh murah=barang murah=tidak perlukan R&D). Setelah anda semua membaca Toy Safety di bawah, penulis berharap anda sebagai ibu bapa terfikir 'Tidak mengapalah kita laburkan duit lebih sedikit untuk pastikan anak-anak mendapat alatan mainan yang tidak bahaya kandungan bahan buatan dan selamat!' Ini adalah salah satu pelaburan jangka masa panjang. Demi kesihatan, keselamatan dan perkembangan anak-anak. Marilah kita sebagai ibu bapa bersama-sama memulakan langkah dengan mempunyai kesedaran yang tinggi tentang 'TOY SAFETY'!  

TOY SAFETY

1. Potential Hazards (Under age 3)	Choking hazards	Infants and toddlers put everything in their mouths. It's how they explore the world. Choking on balloons, balls, toys, or toy parts is the most common cause of toy-related deaths. Consumers should remember to read and heed age labels on toys. The labels are not about the cognitive level of the child, but about the fact that infants and toddlers put everything in their mouths and can choke on small parts. Consumers purchasing toys for children under three should avoid: Small toys or parts of toys that break off that can fit entirely into a toilet paper tube. Small balls or round objects that can block a child's airway. Balls should be at least 1.75" in diameter. Cylindrical pieces of toys like toy nails can lodge in a child's airway. Never give young children balloons. Balloons and pieces of broken balloons can completely block a child's airway.
	Toxic hazards	Many consumer products contain harmful chemicals. We are only beginning to understand their health effects, especially to babies and young children who are more vulnerable to these effects because their systems are still developing. PHTHALATES are a class of chemicals used to make plastic softer. They are found in everything from raincoats to lunchboxes; from bath books to rubber duckies. U.S. EPA studies show that the cumulative impact of different phthalates leads to an exponential increase in associated harm. Exposure to phthalates have been linked to health effects including reproductive defects, genital abnormalities and early onset puberty. Avoid toys made of PVC plastic which often contains phthalate softeners. Look for toys labeled "phthalate-free" Avoid soft plastic toys Choose cloth or unpainted wooden toys instead Read the labels of play cosmetics and avoid products with xylene or toluene or phthalates. LEAD AND OTHER HEAVY METALS Scientists have not identified a "safe" level of lead exposure for children. Exposure to lead can affect almost every organ and system in the human body, especially the central nervous system. Children exposed to lead can suffer lower IQ, developmental delays or even death. Lead can be found in: Costume or novelty jewelry Painted toys Some metal toys To screen a piece of jewelry for lead, use a home lead tester available at the hardware store. (This is a screening method, and should not be relied upon as a definitive test.) Do not give costume or novelty metal jewelry to children who put things in their mouths.
	Strangulations hazards	More than 400,000 articles of children's clothing have been recalled because of strangulation hazards in 2009. Keep mobiles out of the reach of children in cribs and remove them before the baby is five months old or can push herself up. Remove knobs or beads from cords longer than one foot to prevent the cords from tangling into a dangerous loop. Clothing with drawstrings on the hood can get caught on fixed objects like playground equipment and pose a strangulation hazard.
2. Potential Hazards (Under age 12)	Loud Toys	Almost 15 percent of children ages 6 to 17 show signs of hearing loss. Children's ears are sensitive. Children are especially vulnerable to noise-induced hearing loss, which often happens gradually and without pain, from over-exposure to loud noises. Toys don't have to be loud to be fun. Protect your kids from noisy toys by: If a toy seems too loud for your ears, it is probably too loud for a child. Don't buy it. Take the batteries out of loud toys. Cover the speakers with tape.
	Choking Hazards	Avoid hand me down hazards. Be careful to keep toys for older children away from younger children. Small parts or broken small parts pose hazards to any child who still puts things in her mouth. Make sure balls for children younger than six are more than 1.75 inches in diameter. Never give latex balloons to children younger than 8 years old. Mylar balloons are a safer alternative.
	Magnetic Toys	Powerful small magnets used in most magnetic building toys, some toy darts and other toys and magnetic jewelry pose special hazards. The magnets can fall out of small toys and look like shiny candy. If a child swallows more than one magnet, the magnets can attract each other in the body (in stomach and intestines) and cause life-threatening complications. Keep magnetic toys away from children under six. If a child swallows even one magnet, seek immediate medical attention.
	Batteries	Keep small watch or "button" batteries away from young children. The acid can cause fatal internal injuries. If a child swallows a battery, seek immediate medical attention.

You can get more information regarding the Do's and Don'ts selecting safer toys for your kids , HERE.

• Buy age-appropriate toys, especially for children aged three and under
• Test products by using the "try me" feature on the package, if they have them.
• Always look for volume control and an automatic shut-off if a toy has sound or voice
• Ensure any battery compartments are properly secured
• Toys should be well rounded with no sharp edges or protruding items, especially if there is an inner mechanism
• No wires should be exposed

After purchase:

• Keep the packaging for up to three months so you have the product information and toll-free numbers handy
• Keep the receipt so you can return the toy or speak to the retail outlet where you purchased it
• If the item has excessive paint peeling, contact the manufacturer and store where the item was bought

Sorry my conclusion will be in English. Having TOY SAFETY standards facilitate trade, improve quality, raise productivity and efficiency, catalyse technological innovations, share good management systems and best practices as well as boost consumers’ confidence in products and services. It's also improve safety, health and environmental protection. Thus, adding value to our economy and improving the quality of our lives.