NBC Target 5: Congresswoman Takes On Yo-Yo Ball Battle

September 17, 2003

CHICAGO -- In the eyes of several countries around the world, yo-yo balls are a hazard to children. Warnings have been issued and bans put in place. But, in the United States, there's been no regulation, according to Target 5 's Lisa Parker.

But, she reported, a Skokie mother won't rest until that changes.

Lisa Lipin is responsible for bringing the danger of yo-yo balls to Parker's attention. A harrowing incident in which her 5-year-old son, Andrew (pictured, right), was almost strangled by the squishy, bouncy toy alerted Lipin to the hazards.

Target 5 then discovered that their case was scary, but not isolated. Reports have been made around world of children nearly strangled by the cords of these cheap gadgets.

After the original Target 5 report aired in August, NBC5 heard from other parents who had similar scares.

In a message repeated in several messages, one mother wrote, "This needs to get pulled off the shelves immediately."

Now, Illinois Rep. Jan Schakowsky is adding her voice to the mix.

In a letter to the Consumer Product Safety Commission Wednesday, Schakowsky wrote that she was "disturbed by (these) recent reports" from her constituents and "eager to learn about the investigation into yo-yo balls."

Schakowsky is the ranking Democrat on a Consumer Protection Committee. She's also a grandmother who recently bought yo-yo balls for her grandkids, and then promptly took them away after hearing the Target 5 report.

Parker said she'll report further on this issue as the government considers action.