21,000 Popular Toys Recalled Due to Choking Hazard
In this photo illustration, a Mattel, Inc. logo of an US toy manufacturing company seen displayed on a smartphone and a pc screen.
It’s always scary when a recall involves toys and children can be at risk.
Mattel has announced a recall for two of its products. The items in question were sold in the United States and Canada between February 2022 and August 2023. Troublesome Truck and Crates, and Troublesome Truck and Paint were recalled due to magnets that connect the cars coming loose and detaching. The magnets can pose choking and magnet ingestion hazards. 21,000 units were recalled with 400 more in Canada. Consumers who send in the affected items to Fisher-Price receive a full refund.
Official Statement
Mattel’s official statement read, “Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is announcing a product recall of the Troublesome Truck and Crates, and Troublesome Truck and Paint. The small piece that connects one train to another may detach or become loose, posing a choking hazard if a child places the small part in their mouth. This piece also contains a high-powered magnet, posing a magnet ingestion hazard.”
“Consumers should stop using the product immediately and visit www.service.mattel.com and click on ‘Recalls and Safety Alerts’ or call 855-853-6224 for additional information including a refund.”
Troublesome Truck and Crates is a dark gray Troublesome Truck with brown crate loads. Troublesome Truck and Paint is a freight car with gray wheels. It is a dark gray Troublesome Truck covered in spilled yellow paint with paint cans.
Previous Recall
This isn’t Thomas’s first recall. A lead paint recall occurred in June 2007 where products with red and yellow paint contained lead. Over 1.7 million items produced from January 2005 to May 2007 were checked for lead. It became the biggest recall in Learning Curve’s history. Consumers who sent in their affected items received a free gift back with their amended items.
The following items were recalled in 2007
James
Skarloey
Lights and Sounds James
James with Team Colors
Old Slow Coach
Deluxe Fire Station
Musical Caboose
Sodor Line Caboose (Red)
Holiday Caboose
Sodor Fire Crew
Sodor Mail Coach from Hard at Work Percy and Mail Car
Red Coal Car
Day Out with Thomas 2006 Coal Car
Smelting Yard
Yellow and Green Boxcar from Conductor’s Figure 8 Set
Yellow “Sodor Cargo Company” Cargo
Stop Sign
Railroad Crossing Sign
Ice Cream Factory
Baggage Car (Red Version) from Oval Set
Cargo piece from Deluxe Cranky
4 High-Profile Football Coaches I'd Want My Kid To Play For
As a youth coach, there is no better feeling than being able to be able to coach a team that your kid is on. But you realize, if your little athletes goes on to play post-youth ball, they will eventually play for someone else. This led me to think about which high-profile football coaches (in both the NFL and NCAA) I would want my kid to play for today.
This is focused on the sport of football for three main reasons. The first is that is the sport I coach him in. Second, it’s the sport of the season. Lastly, it’s the sport my son loves the most right now.
In today’s modern era of professional and high-profile college sports, the head coaches are very prominent figures. Their press conferences are posted to social media. Furthermore, their demeanor is constantly evaluated,, as the press formulate an opinion as to whether or not they are doing a good job.
“Put Me In, Coach!”
So, what do I look for when thinking about who I’d want my son to play for? Well, in this hypothetical scenario, it is important to note that I am selecting a coach, and not a team. Then, it boils down to attitude. These coaches seem to have an attitude that goes way beyond winning. There’s an empathy to their approach. They carry themselves as unique individuals first, and then as a coach. This then leads their locker room to do the same. Lastly, each of them has bet on themselves, and some point had to have the unwavering belief that they would be great at what they do. They never quit on their dreams or their teams.
I have never met any of these coaches. In addition, none of them coach the team I cheer for. They simply inspire me with how they go about their craft and inspire their players.
Here are the four football coaches I’d want my kid to play for.
Joel Katz is the Morning Show Personality, Assistant Program Director, Podcast Host, Voiceover artist, audio producer, and Digital Content Writer for Magic 98.3. Joel has been working in New Jersey radio since college and started at Magic in 2002 as the Morning Show Host, “I can’t think of another place where I’d fit more perfectly; it’s just a great company with awesome people.” Joel is married to Kathleen, his elementary school sweetheart (they were each other’s first dates at age 9), shares a birthday with his oldest son, Ty, and has twins, Kiera and Liam. Joel runs at least 3.1 miles every day and enjoys playing basketball, doing laundry, saving his turn signal for when he really needs it, kissing dogs through a fence, using coasters, making that cool noise by rubbing his fingers on balloons, and chasing after ping pong balls on a windy cruise ship.
