Dollar General Toy Gun Recall due to Choking Hazard
A toy gun recall involves Special Forces and Police SWAT toy gun sets that pose a choking hazard to children, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The orange tips at the end of the toy gun barrel can come loose and easily be swallowed by a small child, potentially blocking airways. About 9,600 sets are being recalled by retailer Dollar General of Goodlettsville, Tenn. The defective toys were manufactured by Dolencorp, LLC, also based in Goodlettsville, Tenn.
Accidental choking facts from Safe Kids USA:
- Approximately 2,096 children in the United States, ages 14 and under, die from accidental injuries in the home each year and 3 million kids are treated in emergency rooms for accidental injuries occurring at home.
- Airway obstruction – choking, strangulation or suffocation – is the leading cause of accidental death in infants and the fourth leading cause of accidental death in children ages 14 and under.
- Children, especially those under age 3, are particularly vulnerable to airway obstruction death and injury due to their small upper airways, their relative inexperience with chewing and their natural tendency to put objects in their mouths.
The recalled toys were sold at Dollar General stores in 35 states from September 2009 through October 2009. The two products involved are:
- The Special Forces Weapons and Accessories Set
- SWAT Police Play Equipment Set
Each includes two toy guns and related accessories. The larger gun in each set bears the code: 48JQH09. Consumers should take the guns away from children and return them to Dollar General for a full refund or replacement.
