The death of two children has led to a massive defective product recall of toy dart guns. According to a CBS News report, Family Dollar stores are issuing this product safety recall for 1.8 million dart guns along with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Apparently the darts in these guns are small enough to get stuck in the throat and prevent a child from breathing. Desman Young, 10, of Wisconsin and another 9-year-old boy, both reportedly died of asphyxiation after swallowing the darts that came with the gun. In Desman’s case he was playing with the toy gun during recess. He was chewing on a dart when it went down his throat. He was declared “brain dead” and died the following day at the hospital.

Dart Guns Pose Asphyxiation Hazard

The dart gun recall involves the “Auto Fire” target sets sold exclusively at the Family Dollar stores for $1.50. The toys, which were made in China, were sold for about $1.50 from September 2005 through January 2009. Officials are saying that the dart “fits like a stopper” in a child’s throat. It lodges in there and then blocks off the air causing the child to choke and suffocate or suffer catastrophic injuries. Consumers who have one of these dart guns at home are asked to taken them away from their children and throw them away or return it to Family Dollar stores for a full refund.

Toy-Related Deaths and Injuries

CPSC estimates that obstruction from small parts in toys is one of the leading causes of toy-related deaths in children under 15, in the United States. Earlier this year, another toy dart gun was recalled when an 8-year-old boy in Texas swallowed a dart and died of asphyxiation. According to CPSC’s most recent statistics, there were 19 reports of toy-related deaths that occurred in 2008 among children 15 years of age and below. Also, during the same year, there were an estimated 235,000 toy-related injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms. The annual average of estimated toy-related personal injuries from 2006 to 2008 is 229,600.

Product Liability Issues

Toy manufacturers have a responsibility to their consumers to manufacture products that are safe. However, very often that is not the case. Sometimes, we find unacceptably high levels of dangerous substances such as lead or cadmium in our children’s toys. Other times, the toys are defectively designed or manufactured, putting the lives of our children in serious jeopardy. If your loved one has been seriously injured or killed as the result of a dangerous or defective toy, please contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer and find out more information about your legal rights and options.

Have your children had any dangerous experiences with these dart guns or other toys?