Children

Children, Children, Everywhere
We have 40-50 children living in Paul Revere Village. Please slow down when driving anywhere within our complex. Parents/Guardians…please be certain your children are doing ‘safe play’, not destroying property or blocking traffic, not riding’/running’/boarding at dusk or later when cars are less likely to see them until it is too late.

PRV's School Bus Stop - The board voted in June (see May Minutes) to move the school bus stop to the corner of Bunker Hill and Grafton Street. This was due to the damage being caused at the mail building, the debris, and the safety concerns about the electrical box there.

On August 4th 2004, one parent with small children in the complex and another parent whose children are grown, came to the board meeting to voice their objections. Based on this discussion, it was decided that the board would rescind their vote and revisit the situation, if need be, in a few months.

It is important that parents instruct their children about what is proper behavior at the bus stop, supervise their children and report any children who are not behaving properly. The area is cleaned often by board members who remove candy wrappers, coke cans, etc. Shrubs have also been damaged. It appears that children have also been tampering with the electrical box, which is certainly a danger to them.

A very important safety message!

No matter how careful you are when choosing toys for your child, there is always a chance that an unsafe one may sneak through into the toy box. An example of a very popular, but apparently unsafe toy, is the Yo-Yo Water Ball Toy.

It is a liquid filled bungee ball with soft spike-like protrusions on the ball, a cord of same material attached, and a round soft ring for the finger at the other end. The MA Office of Consumer Affairs is urging the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to recall the toy as has been done in Canada and Great Britain .

According to the MA Office of Consumer Affairs, these seemingly harmless toys have been known to poison and choke young children as well as catch fire.

Here is some information about these toys:

The water inside does not appear to be toxic.
The ball itself is made from diesel hydrocarbons.
The ball ignites instantly when a lighter is held to it …burning so hot it broke the lab dish and even the water inside did not slow down the burn.
The ball’s cord is rubbery plastic and can stretch to 4-5 feet long. Children may swing it around their heads since it is soft. This could unintentionally tighten around their necks.
The balls may emit dangerous compounds causing a variety of chronic health problems.

They are sold under the names “Yo-Yo Water Ball” and “Water Yo-Yo”, often in bargain stores.

Hopefully the Federal Government will listen to the concerned organizations in New York and Massachusetts and both recall and ban them.

Please, check your toy boxes and spread the word…these are not safe toys!

Sources:         http://www.state.ma.us/consumer/New/pr061103.htm
                       http://www.thebostonchannel.com/buyerbeware/2378909/detail.html?type=print
                       http://wbz4.com/siteSearch/local_story_162160127.html/resources_storyPrintableView