Alison Cassady

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  myhealth.hoho.org/HealthNews/toys_feature2.htm - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 8/22/2008    Last Visited: 8/22/2008  

  Alison Cassady, toy tester on a missionHolland Hospital : Health Information
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  Alison Cassady, toy tester on a mission
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  (HealthDay News) -- Alison Cassady, 33, plays with toys all day long.She pushes buttons and works parts.She listens and she feels.
  
  Then she tries to break them.
  
  Cassady is research director for U.S. PIRG's Washington , D.C. , office, a national nonprofit consumer advocacy group that produces an annual toy safety report.
  
  In her job, Cassady acts much like a parent.She wanders the aisles of all sorts of stores -- department stores, big-box toy stores, smaller boutiques -- and gives the toys there a once-over.
  
  "I peruse the shelves and look for toys that might not meet consumer protection standards," Cassady said."I do a lot of shopping.That's about what it is."
  
  Cassady chooses to take a decidedly low-tech approach to her work."I try to use the tools parents have," she said."I don't have a lot of fancy gadgets."
  
  One of the first things she does when approaching a new toy is check for choking hazards.
  
  "I look at the toy and use common sense -- are there any parts of this toy that could break off and form a choking hazard," Cassady said.
  ...
  Cassady will run some toy parts through a "choke funnel" -- a small tube designed to see if the bit of plastic could become lodged in a child's throat.Parents can use empty toilet paper tubes to do much the same thing, she said.
  
  These days, Cassady also uses lead testers purchased at a hardware store to check toys for lead paint, a growing concern given all the recent recalls of Chinese-made toys containing lead paint.She does the testing in the store, adding, "In general, it doesn't hurt the toy at all.This is something parents can do, too."
  
  Cassady also listens to each toy."In a toy store, I push all the buttons," she said."If it's too loud for me, it's probably too loud for a child."
  
  Toys that she suspects could damage a child's hearing are bought and taken back to the PIRG office, where a decibel tester is used to determine exactly how loud it is.
  ...
  Even though Cassady spends her days looking for trouble, she said the good news is that most of the toys available for children don't make the PIRG list.
  
  "We have found that most toys are safe," she said.

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  www.earthbeatradio.org/2006/06/debating_how_to_tax_oil_ - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 1/1/2006    Last Visited: 8/2/2008  

  Allison Cassady is the research director for the Public Interest Research Group - PIRG.She says a Texas lawmaker and the Bush administration are pushing a bill that would lift the current 27 mile per gallon standard for all new cars.

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  wispirg.org/issues/consumer-protection - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 10/8/2008    Last Visited: 7/20/2008  

  U.S. PIRG Research Director Alison Cassady releases the 20th annual toy safety report.

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  uspirg.org/news-releases/u/u/new-report-documents-disqu - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 7/19/2004    Last Visited: 2/9/2008  

  "By tying the hands of state governments, the federal government is hurting more than the residents of any one state," said PIRG Research Director Alison Cassady, author of the report.
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  "Without the states acting as incubators of new ideas, Congress and other federal decision-makers are not likely to enact any proactive legislation to protect consumers, the environment, or the health and well-being of Americans," stated Cassady.

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  www.georgiapirg.org/news-releases/toy-safety/toy-safety - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 8/15/2007    Last Visited: 1/10/2008  

  "While we can report substantial progress after 20 years of advocacy on behalf of America's littlest consumers, we are still finding trouble in toyland," said Alison Cassady, Research Director with U.S. PIRG and author of the report.
  
  Consumer Group Alerts Shoppers to Hidden Toy Hazards 11/21/2006
  
  Washington, DCâ€"Hazardous toys are still sold in stores across the country, according to the 21st annual toy safety survey released today by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG)."While we can report substantial progress after more than two decades of advocacy on behalf of America's littlest consumers, U.S. PIRG's researchers still found trouble in toyland," said U.S. PIRG Research Director Alison Cassady, the author of the report.

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  www.uspirg.org/about-us/staff - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 3/9/2007    Last Visited: 3/9/2007  

  Alison Cassady
  
  Research Director, DC Office
  
  202-546-9707 x308

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  www.uspirg.org/news-releases/product-safety2 - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 10/8/2008    Last Visited: 2/9/2008  

  Statement of U.S. PIRG Research Director Alison Cassady
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  "While we can report substantial progress after more than two decades of advocacy on behalf of America's littlest consumers, U.S. PIRG's researchers still found trouble in toyland," said U.S. PIRG Research Director Alison Cassady, the author of the report.
  
  S. 3128 Would Undercut Critical State Food Safety Measures

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  uspirg.org/uspirgnewsroom.asp?id2=28921 - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 11/21/2006    Last Visited: 1/4/2008  

  Alison Cassady or Liz Hitchcock
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  "While we can report substantial progress after more than two decades of advocacy on behalf of America's littlest consumers, U.S. PIRG's researchers still found trouble in toyland," said U.S. PIRG Research Director Alison Cassady, the author of the report.
  
  According to the most recent data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), almost 73,000 children under the age of five were treated in emergency rooms for toy-related injuries in 2005.Twenty children died from toy-related injuries last year.
  
  "Even one toy-related death is too many, because these deaths are preventable," said Cassady.
  ...
  "Toddlers put everything in their mouths," said Cassady."CPSC should make the small parts test more protective of children under three and consider warning labels for toys with parts shaped like corks or the toy nails that caused two children to suffocate," continued Cassady.
  
  Magnetic Toys: Toymakers have started using powerful magnets in building toys and magnetic jewelry.If a child swallows more than one magnet, they can attract each other in the body and cause a bowel obstruction or life-threatening perforation.A little boy died last Thanksgiving and many others have had life-saving surgery after swallowing magnets from MEGA Brands' Magnetix toys.
  
  "Swallowing a magnet is not like swallowing a penny.Powerful magnets can wreak havoc inside the body," cautioned Cassady.
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  "CPSC should not wait until a child dies to protect children from the dangers posed by playing with this toy," said Cassady.
  
  U.S. PIRG called on CPSC to follow the state of Illinois's lead and ban the water yo-yo immediately.
  
  Cassady also reminded parents that the toy list in the U.S. PIRG report is only a sampling of the potential hazards on store shelves.
  
  "Shoppers should examine all toys carefully for hidden dangers before they make a purchase this holiday season," Cassady finished.

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  www.georgiapirg.org/news-releases/toy-safety/toy-safety - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 10/8/2008    Last Visited: 1/10/2008  

  "While we can report substantial progress after 20 years of advocacy on behalf of America's littlest consumers, we are still finding trouble in toyland," said Alison Cassady, Research Director with U.S. PIRG and author of the report.
  
  According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), three-fourths of the 210,000 people who sought treatment in hospital emergency rooms for toy-related injuries in 2004 were younger than 15.Sixteen children died from toy related injuries last year.
  
  "Even one toy-related death is too many, because these deaths are preventable," continued Cassady.
  ...
  "Instead of helping parents, these labels are deceiving parents," stated Cassady.
  
  This week, U.S. PIRG submitted a letter to the Federal Trade Commission and the CPSC, asking them to investigate the validity of "phthalate-free" labels.U.S. PIRG also renewed its call for the CPSC to follow the European Union's lead and ban phthalates in all products intended for children under age five.
  
  "Children's products simply should not contain toxic chemicals," said Cassady.
  ...
  "CPSC should not wait until a child dies to protect children from the dangers posed by playing with this toy," said Cassady.
  
  Cassady noted that the toy list in the U.S. PIRG report is only a sampling of the potential hazards on store shelves."Shoppers should examine all toys carefully for hidden dangers before they make a purchase this holiday season," she added."While most manufacturers comply with the law, parents should not assume that all toys on store shelves are safe or adequately labeled," concluded Cassady.

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  www.nmpirg.org/news-releases/toy-safety/toy-safety-news - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 10/8/2008    Last Visited: 1/10/2008  

  "While we can report substantial progress after more than two decades of advocacy on behalf of America's littlest consumers, U.S. PIRG's researchers still found trouble in toyland," said U.S. PIRG Research Director Alison Cassady, the author of the report.
  
  According to the most recent data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), almost 73,000 children under the age of five were treated in emergency rooms for toy-related injuries in 2005.Twenty children died from toy-related injuries last year.
  
  "Even one toy-related death is too many, because these deaths are preventable," said Cassady.
  ...
  "Toddlers put everything in their mouths," said Cassady."CPSC should make the small parts test more protective of children under three and consider warning labels for toys with parts shaped like corks or the toy nails that caused two children to suffocate," continued Cassady.
  
  Magnetic Toys: Toymakers have started using powerful magnets in building toys and magnetic jewelry.If a child swallows more than one magnet, they can attract each other in the body and cause a bowel obstruction or life-threatening perforation.A little boy died last Thanksgiving and many others have had life-saving surgery after swallowing magnets from MEGA Brands' Magnetix toys.
  
  "Swallowing a magnet is not like swallowing a penny.Powerful magnets can wreak havoc inside the body," cautioned Cassady.
  ...
  "We've known for decades that lead poses serious health risks to children, so it is unacceptable that consumers can still find lead-laden children's jewelry on store shelves," continued Cassady.
  
  U.S. PIRG called on CPSC to enact and enforce mandatory requirements for jewelry manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers to ensure their products do not contain lead.
  
  Strangulation Hazards: CPSC has decided to take another look at the dangers posed by water yo-yo balls after a five-year-old Bellevue, Washington boy almost suffocated last month when the toy's stretchy cord wrapped tightly around his neck several times.CPSC has recorded about 400 injuries to the eyes, face and neck since the water yo-yo ball came on the market three years ago.
  
  "CPSC should not wait until a child dies to protect children from the dangers posed by playing with this toy," said Cassady.
  
  U.S. PIRG called on CPSC to follow the state of Illinois's lead and ban the water yo-yo immediately.
  
  Cassady also reminded parents that the toy list in the U.S. PIRG report is only a sampling of the potential hazards on store shelves.
  
  "Shoppers should examine all toys carefully for hidden dangers before they make a purchase this holiday season," Cassady finished.

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