We believe no responsible parent would buy toys that pose safety or health hazards to their children, but how do you know what’s safe and what isn’t? How can you avoid an accident that could lead to a personal injury lawsuit?

Thankfully, the Illinois Public Interest Research Group, in its annual “Trouble in Toyland” report, lists some of the toys that can potentially harm children.

On the list are toys with high levels of lead and those that pose choking hazards, such as marbles and balls sold without warning labels.  Parents should keep kids younger than 8 away from balloons because they can choke on a piece of a popped balloon. Some toys are on the list because they exceed noise limits that could lead to hearing loss, including Hot Wheels’ Super Stunt Rat Bomb and Elmo’s World Talking Cell Phone.

The report reveals some 200 toys and other products that can adversely affect a child’s health and safety. But the research group points out that this is only a partial list. Parents should always examine toys carefully before purchase and always report toys or injuries to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Another safety-related issue is the use of button batteries in small toys. The tiny batteries, if swallowed, can get stuck in the esophagus, and if they begin to discharge, they can cause a serious burn, experts say. This year alone, 80 cases of button battery ingestion were reported in Illinois, and 3,500 cases were reported nationally. Authorities believe those numbers are a small portion of the actual cases.

Parents should carefully look over electronic devices in their home to be sure that batteries are secure in their compartments and that no spare batteries are within reach of children.