In the back of the Kmart store in Orangeburg, stored in section 605 inside a caged and locked area in the back of the storage room, sat Dora the Explorer, Polly Pocket and numerous other toys the store pulled off its shelves following Mattel’s latest toy recall.

Manager Debbie Adcox and employee Betty Fairly said they removed the toys early Wednesday after receiving a list via e-mail of all toys affected by Mattel’s recall, warning of lead paint and magnets causing choking hazards.

“We have a sign to put up on the counters and the front window,” Fairy said of the recalled toys. “If (customers) have any, they can bring them in or call Mattell. They were pulled off the shelves this morning.”

The toy recall hit home Wednesday for Orangeburg consumers who worried about the safety of their children and what toys are safe to buy. Popular toys like “Cars” movie items, Batman action figures and Barbie play sets were recalled Tuesday over concerns about lead paint. In the United States, 9 million Chinese-made toys were recalled in addition to 1.5 million Fisher Price infant toys, also made in China, recalled earlier this month. Worldwide, the Mattel recall totals 18.6 million toys, including 18.2 million magnetic toys and 436,000 die-cast toy cars.

At the Orangeburg Pediatric Clinic, Human Resources Manager Keisha Banks said they have been getting calls from concerned parents about lead poisoning and what to do for their children. There are no symptoms for lead poisoning, she warned, and therefore the clinic does recommend that parents whose children have been in contact with the affected toys have them tested.

“The children that put their hands in their mouths or have a tendency to put a toy in their mouth, they may want to receive a lead poisoning test,” she said, speaking on behalf of Dr. Tracy McPherson who could not comment directly as she was seeing patients. “They have to contact their physician for the test. They can have the test taken at Lab Corp or RMC. Lab Corps is next day. RMC may take a little longer. It is a blood-drawn test.”

“We have been getting calls today. Any child that tends to put toys in their mouth or transfer hand to mouth could be at risk. There are no symptoms. Other than blood work there nothing we can do,” Banks said. “We have been getting calls from parents trying to find out what to do.”

Wal-Mart Assistant Manager Dominique Muldrow said recalled toys were also removed there once an e-mail of the list of toys was received. He said the store hadn’t received any complaints or inquiries from consumers, but is concerned with customers’ safety.

“The recall came today; specifically, I got the e-mail today, he said. ”We haven’t gotten a call yet. We set up a picture of each product and displayed it at the customer service desk. ... My biggest concern is making sure everybody is aware of it and take the necessary steps so nothing happens to kids with the toys. (Corporate) has been making sure everyone got the e-mail in the stores. We just go by the recall that is sent to us. I think the other toys that don’t have it (lead) will continue to sell. I don’t know what is going on with Mattel.“

Shopping with her two sons, Angela Whetstone said bluntly that buying toys is on hold in her home because of the safety issues.

“I’m scared,” she said. “You don’t know if your kids are going to get sick, don’t know what the case is.”

While she thinks there are no recalled toys in her home now, she has bought Mattel toys for her children in the past. What’s dangerous, she said, is that Mattel makes “all kinds of toys,” most of which are very popular like Dora the Explorer and Elmo, that kids either have or want.

“Right now it’s off limits on buying toys,” she said, adding that the company has a lot of making up to do to consumers. “I rather not take the chance. There are years yet to come, and they have to do a lot of making up before I’ll buy a toy.”

At least one store in the Orangeburg area had not removed any toys from the shelves and, in fact, was not sure if they had any on the list in stock. A Roses manager said she had not received the e-mail of recalled toys as of midafternoon Wednesday and, therefore, could not say if the store had any of the items.

T&D Special Assignments Writer Charlene Slaughter can be reached by e-mail at cslaughter@timesanddemo crat.com or by phone at 803-533-5529. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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