BWG Consumer Alert: November 2010

Buying Safe Toys This Christmas Season

With the Christmas season almost upon us, we wanted to share some important safety tips and guidelines relating to toys. Hopefully this information will help you make the best and safest purchases.

Before you head out to the stores, consider these guidelines from the Consumer Product Safety Commission:

• Make sure you purchase a toy that is appropriate for the child's age. The Child Safety Protection Act requires most toys have a label with age instructions.
• For children under age 3, avoid buying toys or games that include small parts, balls or marbles. These pose a choking hazard.
• Avoid buying toys with long strings and cords for infants and young children. These present a risk for strangulation.
• For children ages 3 through 5, avoid buying toys made of thin, brittle plastic. This material can easily break and cut.
• If you buy a child a bicycle, make sure you also buy a helmet.
• Watch out for toys with sharp edges.
• Avoid toys that shoot hard projectiles as they can cause severe eye injuries.
• Loud noises can damage a child's hearing. Toys that use caps which produce noise beyond a certain level should have a warning label about proper use.
• Electric toys can shock or burn when misused. Check the box to make sure they meet government requirements. Only give electric toys to children over age 8.
• Look for safety labels including "Flame retardant/Flame resistant" on fabric products and "Washable/hygenic" materials on stuffed toys and dolls.
• Read the instructions and lists of parts on toy boxes at the store.

To learn more about buying safe toys, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission website.

DePuy Hip Implant Recall Affects Thousands

The DePuy Orthopaedics unit of Johnson & Johnson has recalled two types of hip implants which have failed in one out of eight patients who have received them. Many patients have suffered pain, loosening of the joints, and other symptoms which may require them to have a second surgery within five years. The standard hip implant should last for approximately 15 years.

One of the affected implants is the ASR XL Acetabular System, which is used in a traditional hip implant procedure used in the United States. In the past two years, the Food and Drug Administration has received about 400 complaints about the hip implants.

Breakstone, White & Gluck is handling cases for people affected by the recall. If you are affected, you should work with your doctor to decide the appropriate course of treatment.

You should also consult an attorney promptly to protect your rights.

DePuy is attempting to obtain medical authorizations from patients even before treatment of the defective hips is undertaken. This will allow the physicians to release your medical information directly to the manufacturer. We suggest that you do not sign any releases for DePuy, and if you have, that you revoke them. Your physician should not require you to sign a release as part of your follow-up treatment.

Click to watch our DePuy recall video

Click for more about the DePuy hip implant recall

Click for more about DePuy seeking medical records