Health Canada issues warning on older ‘Little People’ toys
March 25, 2010
Debra Black
STAFF REPORTER
Health Canada has issued a warning that all older Fisher-Price “Little People” figures manufactured before 1991 should be discarded because of a risk of serious injury or death. The size and shape of the figures if in a child’s throat can cause a complete block of airflow.
Recently a 10-month old child died when one of these figures got lodged in the child’s throat, according to the advisory issued Thursday by Health Canada.
The older “Little People” figures have a circular base of about 2 cm or 3/4 of an inch in diameter. The figures include a variety of characters including a little girl, a train conductor, a dog and a father. These figures should all be discarded, Health Canada said.
The newer figures, manufactured since 1991, have a larger circular base, approximately 3 cm or 1 and 1/4 inches inches in diameter. These figures are taller, in chunkier shapes and are of sizes that cannot be taken into the throat of a young child, the release said. And they are not subject to Health Canada’s advisory.
Many of the older figures are still used in Canadian households, the advisory said. And they continue to be sold in some second hand retail establishments, including internet retailers and resellers.
Health Canada “strongly encourages parents, grandparents, caregivers who still have possession of any older “Little People” figures to immediately and safely discard of them,” the advisory said.
“The toys should be disposed of in normal household garbage in such a way that they cannot be used or re-sold. The health agency is also encouraging second-hand retailers to discontinue the sale and distribution of the older figurines.”
According to Health Canada, Fisher-Price launched its own public information campaign in 1992 in response to reports of seven fatalities and one serious injury relating to the use of these figures by children under three years old.