TOY INJURY |
| |  The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports there are more than 200,000 visits to U.S. emergency departments each year because of injuries related to toys. Most (97 percent in 2010) are treated and released.
Asphyxiation, choking and drowning are leading causes of toy-related deaths for all ages. For children age 15 and younger, non-motorized scooters are most frequently associated with injuries. Children less than five years old are at especially high risk of toy-related injuries. |
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| | The head and face are the parts of the body most frequently injured. |
 Who Is at Risk |
| | Due to their natural desire to put everything in their mouths, young children under age 3 are at greater risk than older children from choking on toys. |
| | Males account for approximately sixty percent of all toy-related injuries. |
Toy Injury Prevention Laws and Regulations |
| | The Federal Hazardous Substances Act and the Toy Protection and Toy Safety Act ban any toy or children's article that consists of or contains any hazardous substance or that presents an electrical, mechanical or thermal hazard. |
| | The Child Safety Protection Act requires choking hazard warning labels on packaging for small balls, balloons, marbles and certain toys and games having small parts that are intended for use by children ages 3 to 6. This Act also bans any toy intended for use by children under age 3 that may pose a choking, aspiration or ingestion hazard. |
| | The Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act mandates the labeling of hazardous art materials as inappropriate for use by children. |
| | The toy industry has established voluntary toy safety standards under the Standard Consumer Safety Specification on Toy Safety (ASTM F963) to minimize the risk of injury from toys during normal intended use and reasonable foreseeable abuse. |
| | Toy guns must conform to marking requirements under the United States Department of Commerce "Marking of Toy Look-Alike and Imitation Firearms" regulation to distinguish them from real guns. |
Prevention Tips |
| | When selecting toys, consider the child's age, interests and skill level; look for quality design and construction; and follow age and safety recommendations on labels. |
| | Play is most valuable when adults become involved and interact with children, rather than simply providing the toys or supervising the activity. |
| | Teach children to put toys away safely after playing. Ensure that toys intended for younger children are stored separately from those for older children. |
| | Inspect old and new toys regularly for damage and potential hazards. Make any necessary repairs immediately or discard damaged toys. |
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