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Yo-Yo Balls Injuries

On November 9, 2006, The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) decided to initiate an in-depth investigation into the safety of Yo-Yo Water Balls, a popular toy blamed for injuring more than 400 children across the country. A column on Msnbc.com detailing the injuries a 5-year old boy in Washington State encountered brought the investigation into high gear. “We are willing to explore all issues with Yo-Yo Water Balls,” Wolfson, a spokesperson for CPSC Said.

The colorful, fluid-filled Yo-yo balls have been on the market for numerous years, are connected to an elasticized cord that easily can get wrapped around the neck of children playing with the toy. For three years, Lisa Lipin, a mother in Skokie, Ill., has been leading the effort to get Yo-Yo Balls banned. In 2003, her 5-year-old son was injured when he had a Yo-Yo Ball cord wrap around his neck. CPSC investigated and refused to recall the toy, saying the risk of strangulation was not great enough.

The latest incident involves a Bellevue, Washington boy who also was nearly strangled playing with the toy. A CPSC investigator is scheduled to meet with his parents, on November 13, 2006. “I hope that they do their job,” the boy’s mother said, “and find out that this is a very dangerous toy; that children can actually die from this product.”

Few yo-yo balls, which sell for $1 or $2, are identifiable by brand, but all we’ve seen say “Made in China.” Several retailers, including Walgreens and Toys “R” Us, have stopped selling the balls. They’ve been banned in some foreign countries, and several states’ consumer-protection officials have asked for a recall.

If your child suffered a minor or serious injury while playing with a Yo-yo ball, please fill out the form at the right for a free case evaluation by a qualified attorney.