It Figures

4.4 Million
The number of Mattel play sets recalled because of injuries to several children who swallowed magnets that fell off. The Consumer Product Safety Commission, which an-nounced the recall of magnetic Polly Pocket sets as the holiday gift-buying season began, urged shoppers to avoid buying toy sets with small magnets for children under six. The recall doesn’t include Polly Pocket play sets now on store shelves. The commission received 170 reports of the small magnets falling from Polly Pocket dolls and accessories. Three children swallowed more than one magnet and suffered intestinal perforation that required surgery. If more than one magnet is swallowed, they can attach to each other and cause intestinal perforation, infection or blockage, which can be fatal. “Swallow-ing a magnet is not like swallowing a penny,” said Alison Cassady, research director of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group in a statement that accompanied its annual toy safety survey. “Powerful magnets can wreak havoc inside the body.”

67,000
The number of car seats being recalled by Dorel Juvenile Group Inc. because of problems with handle trim screws that can loosen. The seats were sold under the names Alpha Elite and Eddie Bauer and were built during 2005 and 2006, according to a posting from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall is being conducted because one or more of the six handle trim screws could fall out and a child could pick them up and choke on them, the posting said. The Associated Press reported that the recall is voluntary and that to Dorel’s knowledge no child has choked on a handle screw.

13
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced 13 vehicles earned its Top Safety Pick awards for 2007. Winners include four cars, seven SUVs, and two minivans. Three of the 13 winning vehicles for 2007 are from Honda, including an Acura SUV. Three winners are Subarus. No small vehicles were winners this year. IIHS says its award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side and rear crashes based on ratings in Institute tests. Winners also have to be equipped with electronic stability control (ESC). The Top Safety Pick winners for 2007 are: large car — Audi A6 manufactured in Dec. 2006 and later; midsize cars — Audi A4, Saab 9-3, Subaru Legacy equipped with optional electronic stability control; minivans — Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona; luxury SUVs — Mercedes M class, Volvo XC90; midsize SUVs — Acura RDX, Honda Pilot, Subaru B9 Tribeca; and small SUVs — Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester equipped with optional electronic stability control. Pickups aren’t included in this round of awards; the Institute hasn’t begun to evaluate their side crashworthiness.