TÜV test water toy often lethal

Be careful when buying bath toys

07/16/2013

Swimming tires, rubber animals and Co. - just in time for the holiday season countless water toys are again in use, which should provide for the special fun in the beach holiday. But especially with the purchase of children's swimming seats according to the TÜV Rheinland caution - because as an investigation of bath articles from souvenir shops has revealed, these may even be life-threatening. Therefore, there are some points to consider when buying - then there is nothing in the way of water fun.

Many toys „do not meet the basic safety requirements“
Without water toys the beach holiday is only half as nice for most children. But what dangers hide here, is usually not known - although it can sometimes even be life-threatening. On the occasion of the holiday season, TÜV Rheinland has now tested water toys from holiday resorts in Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, Belgium and the Netherlands - a total of 50 products, including inflatable swimming animals and air mattresses, as well as baby boating seats with a maximum price of € 10. The frightening result: Based on the European minimum standards are likely „20 out of 50 bath articles [.] In the European Union are not sold at all“, because „they do not meet the basic safety requirements“, such a current press release of TÜV Rheinland.

„Inflatable swimming seats are life threatening“
The testers had found in their investigation serious deficiencies and safety risks in many child seats, as for example, the risk of slipping out of the seat or the immediate capsizing due to an excessive seating position exist. In addition, the TÜV even came across banned swimming seats for babies and small children in six cases - so TÜV Rheinland expert Christiane Reckter sums up: „These inflatable floating seats are life threatening. They pretend safety to their parents, but they do not offer it that way. That's why such seats are absolutely forbidden. Safe swimming aids or children's swimming seats must not be designed like colorful water toys.“ In addition, the seats would need to have user and safety information and „meet the requirements of the standard series EN 13138-1 or EN 13138-3“, which must be clearly declared both on the product and on the packaging, so the expert's statement.

Ingestible small parts and unauthorized high amounts of various pollutants
But that's not enough - because with five other inflatable toys in the course of the investigation had swallowed small parts (valve plugs) solved, also had in six water toys illegally high levels of various pollutants - such as the so-called phthalate plasticizers, according to the TÜV suspected, „to be hormonal and carcinogenic“, moreover, some products contain too high levels of toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are also suspected of causing cancer.

Toys from Greece are particularly negative
The test turned out to be particularly negative when it came to buying water toys, which were bought in Greece - here, four out of ten products were considered „not permitted“ out, as they like when „Baby safety ring“ the company „INTEX“ from the Netherlands did not meet the minimum standards. Or - as in the case of one „Crocodile swimming seat“ without further manufacturer information - contained small parts. Relatively little to complain about, however, the testers had at the eight products that had been bought in this country: Here it was in the toy „Bee Rider“ a Dutch manufacturer and a swimming ring from „Hoffmann toys“ Criticism given since the „Warning on the packaging formally according to current EN 71 not correct“ was the evaluation of the TÜV.

A total of „slightly positive trend“ compared to previous years
The investigation of the water toy was already the fourth of this kind, whereby in comparison to the previous years one „slightly positive trend“ be:„In 2009, more than 60 percent of the purchased items were sold, over 35 percent in 2010, and in 2012, just under 40 percent of the products did not even meet the European Union's minimum requirements for marketability“, so the message of the TÜV.

Buy water toys only from reliable sources
Nevertheless, the test shows that there are still dangerous articles to buy - therefore recommends the TÜV Rheinland, always „to buy from secure sources and large chain stores that have quality assurance.“ In addition, consumers could quickly see for themselves what the quality of the toy is by paying attention to whether it smells extremely strong and unpleasant, has sharp edges or is made of extremely thin plastic - „then it means better: Stay away and save money“, so the tip of the TÜV.

Swimming learning aids must not be designed like colorful water toys
Also, the price should not be ignored, because "with one-euro products, I would say: cheap is bad," said the TÜV expert Christiane Reckter. Nevertheless, the products would not have to be overpriced, instead there would be good good floating seats, for example, for 10 to 15 euros. In addition, tourists should pay attention to the appearance of the swimming learning aids, because „These must not be designed as colorful water toys and should have at least two air chambers“, so the hint of the TÜV. On the other hand, the toys have a so-called „GS mark“ (Tested safety) then these have been checked in advance by a neutral testing company.

Address of manufacturer or importer should be clearly recognizable
In addition, the strength of the film also provides information about the quality of the product, because according to Christiane Reckter, this would mean „The thicker, the better“ - In addition, care should be taken to see if the seams are sharp-edged or the valves are poorly processed, because then the purchase should rather be avoided. For a good product, however, would have „the valve plugs permanently and firmly attached, they should also be retractable to prevent accidental release as possible“, so the tip of the TÜV. Toys for children up to the age of three should not in any case contain any small parts that could be swallowed. In addition, manufacturers should be obliged to attach age, warning and operating instructions to the products. Last but not least, the labeling of the packaging according to the TÜV is an important criterion for quality: manufacturer or importer and its address should therefore be clearly visible, which is particularly important in the event of a complaint.

Never leave children unattended
But even if the toys are high quality products, children should never be left unattended while bathing - even if a swimming aid is involved, and not even if it is only planked in shallow water. Because as the experts from TÜV vigorously warn, are „most of the accidents in the water [.] namely not defective or inappropriate aids owed, but the lack of supervision of parents.“ (No)

Picture: Rike