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W.A.T.C.H.’s Annual 2025 Summer Safety Report
W.A.T.C.H. ANNOUNCES ITS
“10 SUMMER SAFETY TRAPS FOR 2025”
UNDER-RECOGNIZED and HIDDEN HAZARDS
KIDS COULD ENCOUNTER THIS SUMMER
WHAT PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS NEED TO KNOW TO HELP KEEP KIDS SAFE
WARM WEATHER HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS
ON W.A.T.C.H.’S LIST OF 10 POTENTIAL SUMMER SAFETY CONCERNS FOR KIDS:
AIRBORNE BEACH UMBRELLAS, GEL BEAD BLASTERS,
IMPROPERLY MAINTAINED COMMUNITY SPLASH PADS, TOXIC GARDENING TOYS,
AND BACKYARD KIDDIE POOLS WITH RAINWATER
Boston, MA (JUNE 23, 2025): As summer is officially underway and families are flocking to backyards, beaches, and playgrounds, World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. (W.A.T.C.H.) releases its critical 2025 Summer Safety Report. The report, vital for every family planning to enjoy the warm weather, features W.A.T.C.H.’s 2025 “10 Summer Safety Traps.” Consumer Advocates Joan E. Siff, President of W.A.T.C.H., and James A. Swartz, Director of W.A.T.C.H., showcase these “10 Summer Safety Traps” as representative of some of the many different types of hazards families can avoid to safeguard children during the summer when kids will be spending more hours swimming, riding, climbing, and playing backyard games. The report spotlights safety traps that have recently been linked to child injuries and fatalities or historically have been known to pose risks to children, and are often overlooked, underrecognized, or hidden.
This year’s “10 Summer Safety Traps” include:
- Don’t Let it Fly: Beach Umbrellas
- Playing in the Dirt: Gardening Toys & Yard Hazards
- False Sense of Security: Inflatable Pool Toys
- Double Trouble: Toy Projectiles & Ammo (Water Beads & Balloons)
- Small Wheels, Big Risks: Scooters (Motorized & Non-Motorized)
- Too Hot to Handle: Fireworks and Sparklers
- Playground Perils: Deadly Straps & Dangerous Structures
- Shallow But Serious: Baby Pools
- High-Flying Hazards: Backyard Trampolines
- Germs in the Mist: Splash Pad Dangers
Joan E. Siff and James A. Swartz are urging families to stay informed and remain vigilant, as some safety traps are hiding in plain sight. Joan E. Siff, President of W.A.T.C.H., states, “Familiarity or popularity should never be mistaken for safety.” Siff adds, “Many seemingly harmless summer activities can have devastating consequences, particularly for younger children. As families look forward to enjoying the summer, it’s crucial to stay informed and proactively address these hidden dangers. Parents can arm themselves with the information to help prevent the unthinkable. Knowing what to look out for is one of the most powerful safety tools for a safer summer.”
While agencies like the CPSC and CDC play a vital role in consumer safety, they’re often underfunded, understaffed, and limited in their ability to act quickly. “Delays in the safety oversight process can leave children vulnerable, even as new hazards continue to surface. Recalls are a necessary backstop, but they often happen too late,” said James A. Swartz. “Too often, hazards are discovered only after a child is injured, and not all unsafe products are necessarily recalled. Families should remember that while government alerts, studies, and recall systems are key safety nets, offering at least a baseline of protection in a massive children’s marketplace, there are many more hidden hazards that often are either not addressed or slip through the cracks.”
While most preventable injuries occur near home, accounting for a significant proportion of injuries and deaths, the risks extend beyond traditional backyard play; hazards encompass airborne beach umbrellas, contaminated splash pad water, and inflatable pool toys, such as water wings, tubes, and rafts, that can slip off, tip, deflate, or drift away. These toys have been involved in near-drowning incidents, partly because they may give a false sense of security. Unsecured beach umbrellas, particularly dangerous in windy conditions, have caused severe injuries and fatalities, with children especially vulnerable due to their smaller size and limited ability to react quickly. Splash pads, popular summer attractions, have resulted in numerous outbreaks of illness, often tied to improperly maintained water systems. Awareness and vigilance remain essential, as these hazards may not be widely recognized but pose serious risks during summer activities.
W.A.T.C.H. stresses that many of these injuries are preventable and that raising awareness is key. By sharing information and keeping safety top of mind, families and caregivers can help children enjoy a safer summer. Full details on the “10 Summer Safety Traps” are available in the attached report, which W.A.T.C.H. hopes will serve as a resource to ensure a safer summer for all children.
About W.A.T.C.H.
World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. (W.A.T.C.H.) is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about dangerous children’s products and advocating for child safety. W.A.T.C.H. works year-round to promote safer manufacturing and marketing of toys, aiming to prevent injuries and save lives through greater awareness and more stringent safety standards.