24 Dangerous Toys From Past and Present

Safety standards for toys were considerably lower a decade or two ago and almost nonexistent before that.

By BUBBAHOTIP

Published 9 years ago in Wow

Safety standards for toys were considerably lower a decade or two ago and almost nonexistent before that.

1
From Gunaxin: "Get a box or so of those cap rolls and stomp on them with bare feet! There was your ultimate dare."

2
Fisher-Price recalled 218,000 Power Wheels Motorcycles after nine reports of injuries the gas pedal would often get stuck in "go" mode, causing one child to drive himself into his house at full speed. Don't worry, he was fine.

3
Creepy Crawlers were a 90s favorite. The small oven came with metal hot plates which were filled with "goop" and baked into plastic insects. Though many parents only allowed their kids to use this very real oven under supervision, many a burned finger was virtually unavoidable.
4
Hang Ten" Mini-hammock was pretty dangerous, mostly due to the fact that the hammock had no "support bar" to hold it open, meaning a child could easily become entangled in the hazardous toy.

5
The Water Wiggle was a cheap amendment to an everyday garden hose and turned it into a wild wacky sprinkler. However, it fell apart easily and the rough inner metal made the flailing hose a thrashing snake with very un-fun teeth.
6
Sky Rangers Park Flyer Radio Control Airplanes were voluntarily recalled after 45 reports of exploding airplanes, 5 of which involved minor burns.
7
The Atomic Energy Lab was only sold for one year 1951-1952, but contained real Uranium Ore.

8
The Johnny Rebel Cannon could shoot a small cannonball up to 35 feet with very poor aim.
9
Jarts, lawn darts for kids, were recalled after innumerable injuries. Whoever thought that tossing around sharp pointy things could pose a threat to children?
10
Although Cabbage Patch Snacktime Kids were never recalled, there were 35 reports of the doll chomping on hair and fingers instead of the intended plastic vegetables.

11
Doubly so for throwing stars. This...well...oof.
12
Clackers were never recalled, but the glass balls at the end of a string posed a hazard for years until their production standards were changed. The ropes were known to snap and the balls, which were once made of glass, to shatter. Eventually, the toys were made using nylon ropes and "safe" plastic balls, but both of those changes were useless against simply getting hit in the face.
13
"Knife" and "toy" should never be used in the same sentence.

14
Bat Masterson Derringer Belt Gun was a vintage toy gun whose pellets could actually burn pretty badly.
15
Pogo Ball was meant to be balanced upon, but was used for accidental nosedives into hardwood flooring instead.
16
Although the disclaimer on the Fire Footbag warns that the "toy" is strictly for those 18 and over, it's still an invitation to injury. The ball is made out of Kevlar and meant to be soaked in kerosene, lit on fire and played with. That's just asking for it.

17
Hasbro recalled over a million Easy Bake Ovens between 2005 and 2006 due to numerous reports of children baking their fingers instead of delicious treats.
18
The Spark Gun was a vintage toy whose real shooting sparks could set plenty of things aflame.
19
Sky Dancers, dolls which flew and spun through the air after being launched from a corded plastic plate, were pulled off the market after 150 injuries were reported. The damage included lacerations to the face, missing teeth, light concussions and even a broken rib.

20
Burger King distributed these Pokeballs in Kids Meals until the CPSC realized they were inconveniently the perfect size to fit over a small mouth and nose and could pose a suffocation threat. From CPSC: "...Return both halves to a Burger King restaurant for a free small order of french fries."
21
Kite Tube was a ten foot round water tube that was meant to be dragged behind a boat. Pulling on its two handles would send the rider airborne, but could easily jerk around and smash the unsuspecting victim face-first into the water. After 29 Kite Tube-related injuries requiring medical treatment, the scary toy was recalled.
22
The warning on Gilbert Chemistry Outfit For Boys advised the user to perform many of the experiments outside. That's a bad sign.

23
5,000 Kinder Surprise eggs were recalled in 1997 because the small plastic toys, enclosed in a tasty chocolate shell, typically had to be assembled by the user and posed a serious choking hazard to children.
24
Chinese-made Aqua Dots, small dots which were constructed to make colorful images, were recalled after the date rape drug GHB was found inside the product. There were reports of slowed breathing and heart rate in children who licked the dots.