With the holiday shopping season about to launch, an Iowa watchdog group is issuing warnings to toy buyers. Amber Hard, director of the Iowa Public Interest Research Group — or Iowa “PIRG”, says balloons may seem harmless but they’re the number-one kid killer.Iowa PIRG says 56 children in the U-S choked to death on balloons or balloon parts since 1990. Hard is also warning consumers about toys that contain toxic chemicals that are added to plastic toys made from polyvinyl chloride, or P-V-C, as a softener.Hard says people who purchase the popular scooters should also get the proper safety gear, including a helmet, wrist guards and knee and elbow pads. In the past year, 26-thousand injuries were reported nationwide on scooters and two deaths.Go to “www.toysafety.net” for more information.