DANGEROUS TOYS SHOWN WATCH FOR SMALL PARTS, TOXICS, EXPERTS WARN PARENTS.

Byline: Brent Hopkins Staff Writer

A yo-yo ball can be a fun plaything or a potentially deadly weapon, consumer advocates cautioned Tuesday.

To illustrate the point, they unleashed a trio of 4-year-olds at a table of toys that they contend could be lethal, ranging from balloons to nail polish to beeping battle tanks.

Though the California Public Interest Research Group said the toy industry has made great strides to protect children, it cautioned that even products approved by the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission can pose risks.

Eleven children died last year in toy-related accidents, according to the Safety Commission.

``Toys are improving in America,'' Jennette Gayer, a CalPIRG consumer advocate said in unveiling its annual ``Trouble in Toyland'' guide at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. ``The ones I had as a child were much more dangerous, but one toy-related injury or one toy-related death is one too many.''

Small parts that pop off and find their way into young throats raised the most concern. To test whether a toy would be safe for a child, the group recommends sliding any detachable part into an empty roll of toilet paper. If it fits inside, it could also choke a kid.

Yo-yo balls, the popular balls encased in water on a long, gummy string, fared poorly in the report. As Gayer discussed the potential hazards of the toys, saying that kids like to swing the balls in lasso fashion, the children on her test panel did just that. She cited a CPSC report of around 400 injuries connected to the toys, which can cause strangulation or eye injury when the lasso misfires.

Burbank-based Disney Consumer Products Group, which had its Disney Princess Backpack and Disney Princess Super Ball named to the list, said that all its products meet all federal and state safety regulations. Though spokesman Gary Foster said the company does not manufacture the products itself, he said it maintains strict safety controls over its contractors.

``This group unnecessarily alarms parents about toys and other products that have already met all safety requirements,'' he said. ``We're comfortable that our products are safe.''

The report also criticized toys that make loud noises or contain potentially toxic chemicals, such as various children's nail polishes. To dampen the damage on small ears, Gayer recommended covering speakers with tape. Above all, she urged adults to play with toys before giving them and to supervise playtime for the kids who receive them.

``We see a lot of minor injuries at this time of year,'' said Dr. Ilene Claudius, an attending physician in the emergency room at Childrens Hospital. ``It's minor medically, but if you can imagine spending your entire Christmas getting stitched up because you were hurt by a toy, that's pretty sad.''

Brent Hopkins, [phone]

brent.hopkins(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Children play with dangerous toys during a news conference by the California Public Interest Research Group.

(2 -- color) Consumer advocate Jennette Gayer displays an M-1 tank toy that is considered to be too loud for a child's ears.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer