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Trading Standards blow the whistle on dangerous toys
WARRINGTON Trading Standards were hot off the mark last week when they blew the whistle on a trader selling dangerous whistles in the town centre.
Town centre wardens and an off duty Enforcement Officer had spotted the trader attempting to sell the potential choking hazards.
The whistles, which were being sold for £2, are made from a semicircle of felt with a hard plastic insert. The whistles are intended to be put in your mouth and, when wet, will stick to the roof of your mouth to produce a highpitch whistling sound.
The toy is classed as a mouth-actuated toy and there is a requirement under the law that it does not fit inside a small cylinder, which is intended to replicate a child's throat. The warning that the toy contains small parts and may be a choking hazard is irrelevant. The main concern about the whistles is that if the user inhaled the whistle may be swallowed.
Cllr Mike Hannon, Portfolio Holder for Community and Wellbeing, said:-
"Trading Standards has done a marvellous job of taking these items off sale. Our main concern is for the people who may have bought these 'toys' as a gift for a child and are not aware of the dangers associated with them.
The items do not bear the name and address of the manufacturer, which is a requirement of the legislation on toys and they are not CE marked. Anyone buying from a street trader would have difficulty in tracing either the trader or the importer if there were a problem with the toy.
I would like to urge people to put safety in the foremost of their minds when it comes to buying from street traders. Although you may save money in the short term, you could end up paying seriously in the long-term."
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KIDS GET FIT WATCHING
TELLY!
YOUNGSTERS in Liverpool will be able to get fit while watching television and playing their favourite computer games!
New specially designed kids gym equipment that includes built-in television screens and Playstation consoles has been fitted at Peter Lloyd and Everton Park Lifestyles fitness centres.
The treadmills, steppers and bikes at the 'Futures' gyms allow 8-16 year olds to exercise alongside their parents.
The work is part of a £350,000 upgrade which has seen the gyms completely refurbished and redecorated.
Everton Park's exercise studio has also been redesigned with a brand new sound system and lighting effects to create different moods depending upon whether it's being used for yoga, Tai Chi, dance or spinning classes.
Walton Lifestyles adult gym has also been refurbished as part of the scheme.
Councillor Warren Bradley, Executive Member for Leisure, said:- "We are determined to provide the best possible health and fitness facilities for people of all ages. Our kids gyms have already proved incredibly popular, and is proof that our pioneering approach to health and fitness is the right one.
By fitting television screens and games consoles to the equipment, we will be able to show children that they can combine their favourite activity with exercise. And by teaching children about the positive benefits of exercise, it is more likely they will grow up fit and healthy and lead an active life."
Special kids gym sessions are held at Everton Park and Peter Lloyd, which include an emphasis on fun to encourage children not involved in sport to get into physical activity and regular exercise.
The sessions complement the city council's health and fitness referral scheme for children - Sportslinx - which is the most extensive programme in Europe aimed at improving sports and skills and reducing child obesity.
The work is designed to build on the 23% increase in the use of council run leisure and sports facilities over the last year. More than 2.5 million visits were recorded in 2003-4, equivalent to every single person in Liverpool using a leisure facility five times.
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