29 Real Toys That Were Banned for Being So Dangerous

The Infographics Show
23 Feb 202219:19
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script delves into the history of controversial and hazardous toys that have been banned or recalled over the years due to safety concerns. It covers a wide range of toys, from the Easy-Bake Oven with its burn risks to the dangerous Clackers made of tempered glass that could shatter. The script also mentions toys with magnets that posed ingestion hazards, such as Polly Pocket and Magnetix, and others like the Water Wiggle and Moon Shoes that led to fatal and serious injuries. Additionally, it highlights toys with toxic components, including Aqua Dots contaminated with GHB and the U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory that contained traces of uranium. The narrative serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of safety in toy design and the consequences of overlooking potential hazards.

Takeaways
  • 🎵 Parents often wish they could ban annoying toys like the singing toy shark that plays the same song repeatedly.
  • ⚠️ The Easy-Bake Oven, despite its popularity, was temporarily pulled from the market in 2007 due to safety concerns like burns from its front-loading door.
  • 🔴 Clackers, a seemingly harmless toy, was found to be dangerous due to the tempered glass spheres that would shatter, leading to their recall and replacement with plastic versions.
  • 🧲 The Quick-Clik Polly Pocket had magnets that were not securely attached, posing a risk of ingestion and the need for emergency surgery if swallowed.
  • 📿 Slap bracelets, popular in the 90s, were found to have metal that could break and cause lacerations, leading to school bans and recalls.
  • 🚣 Aqua Leisure’s Baby Boat had leg straps with a flaw that allowed babies to fall out, resulting in a massive recall and a hefty fine for the company.
  • 🔵 Flubber, a bouncing goo toy from the 1960s, was found to cause health issues like sore throats and rashes, and was eventually recalled.
  • ⚽️ Moon Shoes, with powerful springs that allowed for high jumps, caused numerous injuries and were eventually redesigned with less powerful springs.
  • 💧 The Water Wiggle toy by Wham-O caused two child fatalities when the nozzle was mistakenly used as a mouthpiece, leading to its recall.
  • 🛹 The slip-and-slide toy was popular but caused serious injuries when used by older children and adults, resulting in a redesign and warnings against adult use.
  • 🔫 The Wham-O Air Blaster Gun, which used compressed air, was found to damage children's eardrums when used at close range and was voluntarily recalled.
Q & A
  • Why was the Easy-Bake Oven temporarily pulled from the market in 2007?

    -The Easy-Bake Oven was pulled from the market in 2007 due to numerous reports of children getting their fingers burned or caught in the front-loading door. It was later re-released with added safety features and a smaller entry to prevent access to the heating element.

  • What material were the original Clackers made from and why were they eventually pulled from the market?

    -The original Clackers were made from tempered glass, which would eventually shatter, causing potential injuries from the shrapnel. They were pulled from the market after their introduction in 1968 and replaced with a plastic version.

  • What was the issue with the Quick-Clik Polly Pocket that led to its recall?

    -The Quick-Clik Polly Pocket had magnets in the outfits that were not glued on properly. These magnets would come loose with regular play, rendering the toy useless and posing a risk of children or their younger siblings ingesting the magnets, which could require emergency surgery.

  • Why were slap bracelets banned in some schools and eventually recalled?

    -Many slap bracelets used steel that was too thin or had inferior covers, causing the metal to break or tear out and cut the user. This led to school bans and recalls due to safety concerns.

  • What flaw in the design of Aqua Leisure’s inflatable Baby Boat led to a massive recall and a hefty fine for the company?

    -The leg straps of Aqua Leisure’s inflatable Baby Boat had a design flaw that allowed babies to potentially drop straight out of the boat into the water. This resulted in a recall of four million boats and a fine of over half a million dollars for the company.

  • What was the primary issue with Flubber, the bouncing goo toy from the 1960s?

    -Flubber was marketed as a non-toxic and harmless toy, but it caused health issues such as sore throats and rashes in children who played with it. It was later found to cause inflammation of hair follicles, leading to its recall.

  • Why were the original Moon Shoes eventually pulled from the shelves?

    -The original Moon Shoes, with their powerful springs, caused numerous injuries, including broken legs, ankles, and head-first collisions with objects. The dangers associated with the toy led to its removal from the shelves.

  • What was the fatal flaw in the design of the Water Wiggle toy by Wham-O?

    -The Water Wiggle had an aluminum jet nozzle that could be attached to a hose. The problem arose when children mistakenly put the nozzle in their mouths, leading to two drowning deaths in the 1970s, which resulted in the toy being pulled from the market.

  • What safety warning likely originated from the Wham-O Air Blaster Gun?

    -The Wham-O Air Blaster Gun, which used compressed air to make a dramatic sound, was reported to damage children's eardrums when used at close range. This likely contributed to the common warning against pointing toy guns at others' ears.

  • What was the hazard associated with Rollerblade Barbie that led to its recall?

    -Rollerblade Barbie's skates had built-in LED lights that flashed when the skates were pushed. Unfortunately, the skates also released sparks when rolled on a flat surface, posing a fire hazard, which led to the toy's quick recall.

  • Why were Yo-yo water balls eventually banned in several states?

    -Yo-yo water balls contained several hazards: the cords could tangle around necks, the liquid inside was a chemical solution that could cause poisoning if ingested, and the elastic material was highly flammable. These dangers led to the toys being banned and later redesigned.

  • What was the dangerous component in the U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory toy that led to its swift removal from the market?

    -The U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory toy contained traces of uranium, a highly dangerous radioactive substance. The discovery of this led to the toy being quickly pulled from the market to prevent potential health risks to children.

Outlines
00:00
🚫 Banned Toys: Safety Hazards Turn Playtime into Peril

This paragraph discusses various toys that were banned or recalled due to safety concerns. Starting with the annoyance of the singing shark toy, it delves into the dangers of toys like the Easy-Bake Oven, which had children getting burned, and Clackers, which were made of tempered glass that could shatter. The paragraph also covers the issues with Polly Pocket's magnets, slap bracelets causing lacerations, and the Aqua Leisure's Baby Boat with faulty leg straps. Flubber's toxicity, Moon Shoes causing injuries, and the Water Wiggle leading to child drownings are also highlighted, showing a wide range of hazards from seemingly harmless toys.

05:02
🧵 Slip-and-Slide and Other Dangerous Toys from the Past

The second paragraph covers a range of toys that, despite their popularity, posed significant risks. Wham-O's slip-and-slide led to serious injuries for older users, prompting a market retool and a warning against adult use. The Air Blaster Gun's noise was so loud it risked damaging children's eardrums. Rollerblade Barbie's LED lights were a fire hazard, and Snacktime Kids Cabbage Patch Kids could crush fingers with their strong jaws. Sky Dancers toys, despite their ability to fly, were hard to control and caused injuries, and a Hannah Montana card game was tainted with lead. The paragraph concludes with the dangers of Yo-yo water balls, which presented multiple risks including strangulation, poisoning, and burning.

10:04
🚗 Power Wheels and Other High-Risk Toys for Kids

This paragraph focuses on toys that seemed fun but were actually quite dangerous. Fisher-Price's Power Wheels had issues with brakes fusing and a risk of catching fire. Burger King's Pokemon toys in their kids' meals had a plastic ball that could cause suffocation. The Little Lady Stove was a fully-functional electric stove that could cause severe burns. Gilbert's glass-blowing kit and Kaster Kit Jr Set, which involved molten lead, were hazardous and led to injuries. The U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory included traces of uranium, making it one of the most dangerous toys ever sold. The CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit contained toxic asbestos, and Aqua Dots were found to contain a powerful drug causing sickness in children.

15:09
🔥 Creepy Crawlers and Other Notoriously Banned Toys

The final paragraph discusses some of the most infamously dangerous toys. Creepy Crawlers' Thingmaker used a synthetic compound that emitted toxic fumes when heated. Mini-hammocks for children were responsible for several strangulation deaths. Magnetix, a popular construction toy, had small magnets that children could swallow, leading to serious medical issues. The WeGo Kite-Tube was a high-speed, uncontrolled flying device that resulted in accidents and fatalities. The Austin Magic Pistol was a toy gun with actual firepower and explosive potential, which was deemed too dangerous even for the 1940s and was classified as a real firearm by the government.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Safety Hazards
Safety hazards refer to the potential risks or dangers associated with the use of a product that can cause harm to the user or others. In the context of the video, safety hazards are central to the theme as it discusses various toys that were banned or recalled due to the injuries or accidents they caused to children. Examples include the Easy-Bake Oven with its risk of burns and the Water Wiggle that led to drowning incidents.
💡Recall
A recall is an action taken by the manufacturer or seller to retrieve a product from the market when it has缺陷 (defects) or safety issues. The video script mentions several instances of recalls, such as the one for Clackers due to the risk of shattering into dangerous shards and the recall of the Aqua Leisure’s inflatable Baby Boat because of its flawed leg straps.
💡Defective Products
Defective products are items that do not perform as intended or possess a fault that can lead to malfunction or harm. The video highlights multiple examples of defective toys, like the Easy-Bake Oven with a faulty door mechanism and the Magnetix toy sets with magnets that could be swallowed by children, leading to serious health complications.
💡Toys Banned for Children's Safety
This concept refers to the prohibition of certain toys from being sold or used due to their potential to harm children. The video's main theme revolves around toys that were banned for safety reasons, such as the Austin Magic Pistol, which was deemed too dangerous even for the 1940s, and the Snacktime Kids Cabbage Patch Kids, which could crush children's fingers.
💡Choking Hazard
A choking hazard is a small object or part of an object that could be a risk for someone to accidentally swallow or inhale, potentially blocking their airway. The video mentions choking hazards in the context of toys like the Battlestar Galactica's Colonial Viper ship, where small missiles posed a risk of being swallowed by children.
💡Flammable Materials
Flammable materials are substances that can easily catch fire and burn rapidly. In the video, the keyword is used to describe the risks associated with certain toys, such as Yo-yo water balls, which had a chemical solution inside that was not only poisonous but also highly flammable, posing a triple threat to children.
💡Lead Poisoning
Lead poisoning occurs when lead builds up in the body and can cause serious health problems and even death. The video discusses lead poisoning in the context of the Hannah Montana card game, where the cards were found to contain lead at seventy-five times the recommended amount, leading to a massive recall.
💡Toxic Fumes
Toxic fumes are harmful gases that can cause health issues when inhaled. The video mentions toxic fumes in relation to the Creepy Crawlers’ Thingmaker, which emitted toxic fumes when the plastigoop compound was heated in the toy's oven, leading to its removal from the market.
💡Inflatable Toys
Inflatable toys are made of flexible materials that are filled with air to provide shape and buoyancy. The video discusses the safety issues related to inflatable toys, particularly the Aqua Leisure’s inflatable Baby Boat, which had leg straps that could fail, allowing babies to fall into the water, and the WeGo Kite-Tube, which lacked control mechanisms and resulted in accidents.
💡Government Regulation
Government regulation refers to the rules and restrictions set by governmental bodies to protect public safety, health, and the environment. The video touches on government regulation in the context of toy safety, where the government issued recalls for dangerous toys, such as the four million boats recalled due to the Aqua Leisure’s inflatable Baby Boat.
💡Product Liability
Product liability is a legal concept that holds manufacturers and sellers responsible for injuries caused by defective products. The video implies product liability in the narrative of toy recalls and bans, where companies were held responsible for the safety issues of their toys, such as the Fisher-Price Power Wheels with faulty brakes and the CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit with toxic asbestos.
Highlights

Parents often wish to ban the toy that keeps singing the same song repeatedly.

The Easy-Bake Oven was pulled from the market in 2007 due to reports of children getting burned or injured by the door.

Clackers, a popular toy in the 1960s, were made of tempered glass that could shatter, causing injuries.

Polly Pocket's Quick-Clik version had magnets that could come loose, posing a choking hazard for children.

Slap bracelets were banned in schools and recalled due to the risk of the metal breaking and causing cuts.

Aqua Leisure’s Baby Boat had leg straps that were faulty, leading to government recalls and fines.

Flubber, a bouncing goo toy from the 1960s, caused health issues like sore throats and rashes in children.

Moon Shoes, with powerful springs, caused numerous injuries including broken legs and head injuries.

The Water Wiggle toy led to two child fatalities due to drowning when the nozzle was misused.

Wham-O's slip-and-slide was reworked after causing serious neck injuries in adults and teenagers.

The Wham-O Air Blaster Gun was recalled due to reports of it damaging children's eardrums.

Rollerblade Barbie's LED lights posed a fire hazard, leading to a quick recall of the toy.

Snacktime Kids Cabbage Patch Kids could potentially crush children's fingers with its strong mechanical jaws.

Sky Dancers toys were known to fly into children's faces and eyes, causing injuries and being recalled.

A Hannah Montana card game was found to have lead content seventy-five times the recommended amount.

Yo-yo water balls had multiple dangers including strangulation, poisoning, and burning risks.

Battlestar Galactica's Colonial Viper ship was pulled from shelves after a child choked on a small part.

Fisher-Price's Power Wheels had models with faulty brakes and a tendency to catch fire.

Burger King's Pokemon toys were involved in a major recall after causing two infant deaths due to suction hazards.

The Little Lady Stove, a predecessor to the Easy-Bake Oven, was a fully-functioning electric stove that caused many burns.

Gilbert's glass-blowing kit for children resulted in numerous injuries and was promptly removed from the market.

Transcripts
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