Americans are being warned that wildly popular squishy toys can burst when exposed to heat and cause horrific burns.
Squishy dumplings and other squeeze toys have captivated children and adults with their satisfying, stress-relieving texture and collectible designs.
But counterfeit versions may contain toxic substances and violate federal safety requirements, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
The agency issued an urgent warning last week about knockoff toys widely sold through online marketplaces, social media, discount stores and other retailers.
Designed to resemble animals, food and popular characters, the toys may also become dangerously hot when left in direct sunlight, inside a hot vehicle, near a heater or in another high-temperature environment.
The heat can cause a toy to burst, spraying scorching material onto the skin and causing severe burns.
Because the sticky filling can cling to the body, it may continue transferring heat and make the injuries even worse.
The CPSC also condemned videos showing people heating the toys until they expand, change texture or burst, warning: ‘These demonstrations are dangerous and should never be attempted or imitated.’
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission issued an urgent warning last week about knockoff toys widely sold through online marketplaces, social media, discount stores and other retailers
In an August 5 alert, the CPSC noted that it had identified 55 shipments of violative squishy toys at US ports and worked with US Customs and Border Protection to prevent 355,683 units from entering the country.
‘CPSC has also issued notices of violation to companies responsible for importing or selling noncompliant products,’ the agency said.
‘The Commission will continue using its import-surveillance, enforcement, and public-warning authorities to keep dangerous toys out of American homes.’
The CPSC urged consumers to purchase squishy toys from reputable retailers and verified sellers that provide clear contact and return information.
Prices significantly lower than those offered by established retailers may indicate that a product is counterfeit or does not meet federal safety standards.
Shoppers should inspect the packaging for misspelled words, poor-quality printing, missing manufacturer or importer information, and absent age ratings or safety warnings.
The toys should also be checked regularly for tears, punctures, leaks, discoloration, unusual softness, stickiness or other signs of deterioration.
Children should be kept away from damaged toys and must not touch, swallow or inhale any material that leaks from them.
Heat can cause a toy to burst, spraying scorching material onto the skin and causing severe burns
Officials warned that squishy toys should never be microwaved or deliberately heated, nor should they be left inside hot cars, in prolonged sunlight, near heaters or on other hot surfaces.
If a toy bursts, consumers should avoid direct skin contact with the released material while cleaning it up.
Parents should also follow all age restrictions and keep toys containing small parts or ingestible materials away from young children.
In July, a West Virginia teenager was hospitalized with horrific burns after a squishy toy that had been left inside a hot car burst.
Kim Staggs was driving her 13-year-old daughter, Natalee, home from her grandparents’ house when a squishy toy accidentally left inside the hot car suddenly burst.
In January, a nine-year-old Illinois boy suffered burns to his face and hands after a NeeDoh toy exploded in a microwave
Caleb was partaking in a viral challenge that shows people placing the toy in the appliance so they can soften it up
‘We weren’t even a mile up the road, and she just lets out this blood-curdling scream,’ Staggs told KDKA. ‘I’m driving and watching the road, and she lets out this awful scream. My heart sank.’
When Staggs looked over, she discovered a clear substance, later identified as silicone, covering her daughter’s lap. She rushed Natalee to a nearby hospital, where the teenager was taken into the emergency room for treatment.
Another incident occurred in January, when a nine-year-old Illinois boy suffered burns to his face and hands after a NeeDoh toy exploded in a microwave.
While getting ready for school on the morning of January 20, Caleb turned on the microwave in his Plainfield home while his mother, Whitney Grubb, helped her other son get out the door.
Whitney thought Caleb was heating his breakfast, but all of that changed when she heard a ‘blood-curdling scream’ from him, she told the Chicago Sun-Times.
Instead of food, Caleb was actually microwaving a Needoh cube, a popular sensory toy or stress ball, filled with a thick gel substance.
The online challenge shows people placing the toy in the appliance so they can soften it up since they firm up over time.
But when Caleb opened the microwave door, the toy exploded on his face and hands, leaving him with excruciating burns.
‘When I asked what happened, he told me that a friend at school told him about putting it in the microwave,’ Grubb told the outlet.
‘It wasn’t anything malicious, it was just kids sharing stories, and unfortunately, he decided to try it.’
