In 1998, more than 3.3 billion toys and games were sold in the United States. Although meant to provide joy and entertainment, toys are linked to all too many injuries. Children ages 4 and under are at especially high risk. While falls and choking account for the majority of these deaths and injuries, children also can suffer from strangulation, burns, drowning and poisoning while playing with toys.

Although the majority of toys are safe, they can become dangerous if misused or in the hands of children who are too young for them. Appropriate selection and proper use of toys, combined with parental supervision, can greatly reduce the incidence and severity of such injuries.

DEATHS AND INJURIES

• In 1998, at least 14 children ages 8 and under died from toy-related injuries. Nearly 80 percent of these children were ages 4 and under.
  
• In 1998, an estimated 121,500 children ages 14 and under were treated in hospital emergency rooms for toy-related injuries. Children ages 4 and under accounted for nearly 60 percent of these injuries.
  
• The majority of toy-related injuries are minor. Approximately 98 percent of children seen in hospital emergency rooms for toy-related injuries are treated and released.
  

WHEN AND WHERE TOY RELATED DEATHS AND INJURIES OCCUR

• The leading cause of toy-related death is choking, mostly on latex balloons. In 1998, 60 percent of toy-related deaths were due to choking, half of which involved latex balloons. Other toy-related deaths were due to drowning and suffocation.
  
• Riding toys, mostly tricycles, also have been involved in toy-related deaths. These deaths may occur when a child is hit by a motor vehicle while riding a toy or when a child rides a toy into a pool, pond or other body of water.
  
• Among children ages 14 and under, riding-toys (primarily wagons and tricycles) are associated with more injuries than any other toy group.
  
• The majority of riding toy-related injuries occur when a child falls from a toy.
  
• Fifty-four percent of all toy-related injuries are to the head and face area, which includes the head, face, eyes, mouth and ears.
  

WHO IS AT RISK

• Due to their natural desire to put everything in their mouths and the small size of their upper airways, children under age 3 are at greater risk than older children from choking on toys. However, older children are as likely to choke on latex balloons as children under age 3.
  
• Males account for more than 60 percent of toy-related injuries.
  

TOY INJURY PREVENTION LAWS AND REGULATIONS

• The Federal Hazardous Substances Act bans any toy or children’s article that consists of, or contains, any hazardous substance, including hazardous levels of lead, 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 U.S. Department of Commerce "Marking of Toy Look-Alike and Imitation Firearms" regulation, to distinguish them from real guns.
  

HEALTH CARE COSTS

• It is estimated that the total annual cost of toy-related injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms among children ages 4 and under is approximately $385 million.
  

PREVENTION TIPS

• Use mylar balloons instead of latex balloons. If you must use latex balloons, store them out of reach of children; do not allow children to inflate them; and deflate and discard balloons and balloon pieces after use.
  
• 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.
  
• Ensure that toys are used in a safe environment. Riding toys should not be used near stairs, areas of traffic or swimming pools.
  
• Always supervise children at play. Play is even more valuable when adults become involved and interact with children during play rather than supervising from a distance.
  
• Teach children to put toys away safely after playing. Ensure that toys intended for younger children are stored separately from those for older children.
  
• Consider purchasing a small parts tester to determine whether small toys may present a choking hazard to children under age 3.
  
• Inspect old and new toys regularly for damage and potential hazards. Make any necessary repairs immediately or discard damaged toys out of children’s reach.
  
• Check the website of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (www.cpsc.gov) regularly to obtain information on recent toy recalls.
  

12/99 This information was compiled by the National SAFE KIDS Campaign.