This is one of the most important things we've ever posted & I hope you'll pass it along. Toy Recalls are serious business. Look no further than the latest breaking news. One of the best kept secrets (and we're going to try to help raise awareness by talking about it here, on TV + Radio in next 24 hrs, including on CNN Hedadline News) is, if you purchase toys online, you can be alerted via email if there is a recall of that specific toy. Seems like a no-brainer to me. Here's how ...
Breaking News: Another major -- and tragic -- toy recall was announced late yesterday by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Being pulled from store shelves and Internet retailers, over 4 million units of the toy Aqua Dots, found to contain a chemical that converts into a powerful date-rape drug when ingested. Serious stuff.

Full information about the Aqua Dots
recall can be found at www.aquadotsrecall.com.
Here's what's being advised: Aqua Dots, distributed by Spin Master Ltd. of Toronto, sold for $17 to $30 and were available at stores including Toys "R" Us, Wal-Mart. and Target. Consumers should immediately take the recalled toys away from children and contact Spin Master for a replacement product or toy of equal value. Also, check to see if you may have already purchased Aqua Dots as a Christmas gift. If so, be sure to return those units as well. You can find the very latest information about this recall online at www.aquadotsrecall.com.
**DON'T MISS TOY RECALLS - HOW TO BE IMMEDIATELY ALERTED BY EMAIL**
As
previously posted on ReginaLewis.com – If you shop for toys online, sites like
eToys, Amazon.com and
ToysRUs.com will automatically attempt to send online shoppers email notifications about recalls the same day they're issued. This is a nice –
maybe even critical – value-add and something to keep in mind as you do your holiday shopping this year.
eToys Toy Recall Basics: You'll receive an e-mail from eToys. If you purchased the recalled item from eToys, they'll attempt to notify you via e-mail with details on which toy you ordered, plus recall specifics and who to contact for a replacement. Be sure to use a permanent e-mail address when you order, eToys sends recall e-mails to the address used when the order was placed. It's a service our company has provided to their customers since 2000.
More...Will Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us alert me about a recall? All customers who are registered at
www.Toysrus.com or
www.Babiesrus.com to receive email updates and special offers should also receive information about recalls the same day they are issued. Specifics about product recalls are also available online at
www.Toysrus.com/Safety and on their Safety Board in stores.
Amazon.com Recall Information:Amazon.com handles
product recalls on an individual basis. When they are notified an item has been recalled, they stop selling the item and write to customers who have already purchased it to resolve the issue.
Walmart & TargetWhile Walmart.com (
Walmart Recalls) and Target.com (
Target Recalls) both have recall links and related information on their sites, there's nothing stating customers will be notified by email if they have purchased a product that is later recalled.
Still Mail in the Registration Card
Just because some e-tailers are beginning to offer recall alerts via email, this doesnt' mean you shouldn't also send back the product registration/product warranty card that comes in the box. Look at it as a extra protection or a second line of defense in making sure you're notified about any recalls. And if you're shopping offline, whether you're in Toys "R" Us or other retailers, always look in the customer service areas for bulletin boards highlighting the latest product recalls.
Email Alerts from the CPSC
Also worth doing: visit the site for the Consumer Product Safety Commission and sign up to receive notifications regarding recalls for any toys or child products. There's also a link where you can report an unsafe product.
I'd like to see them take this to the next level, drawing on mobile capabilities. When it comes to saving lives, minutes matter -- these kinds of things should come directly to your cellphone in the form of an "alert." The more people take advantage of these offerings, the more likely we'll start to see those kinds of applications.

Receive recall alerts by signing up at CPSC.gov.