Statistical Facts:
- More than 200,000 children go to the U.S. hospital emergency rooms annually with injuries associated with playground equipment (1).
- In 2005, over 40,000 people went to the U.S. hospital emergency room with injuries associated with riding scooters (1).
- Beware of non-CPSC complying rattles for children, often sold as party favors or as decorations, and may be small enough for a child to swallow or inhale (2).
- Strings, cords, necklaces, ribbons, and streamers can strangle infants and children (2).
- Drawstrings at the waist or bottom of jackets should extend no more than 3 inches to prevent catching in car and school bus doors, or getting caught in playground equipment (2).
- If a child is under 12 months old, place the baby on his or her back and remove all soft bedding from the crib (2).
- Approximately 8,000 to 10,000 victims are treated annually in U.S. hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with the tip over of furniture (2).
- About 6 people die each year from furniture tip over accidents (2).
- Each year, there are 21,300 hospital emergency room treated injuries associated with baby walkers for children under 15 months of age—most of which were caused by falling down stairs (2).
- Since 1990, more than 800 deaths have occurred in spas and hot tubs. About one fifth of those were drownings of children under age five. Consumers should keep a locked safety cover on the spa whenever it is not in use, and keep children away unless there is constant adult supervision (2).
- Any ball with a diameter of 1.75 or less is banned for children younger than 3 years old and must be labeled for children older than 3 years (2).
- Toys and games with small parts intended for use by children at least 3 years old, but less than 6 years old must be labeled (2).
- Any latex balloon, or toy or game containing a latex balloon, must be labeled (2).
- Approximately 188 people died from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning from consumer products in 2002 (4).
- During 2004 an estimated 9,600 people were treated for fireworks-related injuries in U.S. hospital emergency departments (4).
- In 2002 an estimated 369,000 unintentional, residential structure fires in the US. led to 2,280 civilian deaths, 12,870 civilian injuries, and $5.32 billion in property loss (4).
- Cooking equipment accounts for the largest percentage of fires, averaging about 29.5% of total fires (4).
- There were 16 toy-related deaths involving children younger than 15 years old in 2004 (4).
- CPSC estimated that 4,900 people went to U.S. hospital emergency rooms with injuries relating to inflatable amusement rides in 2004 (4). Click to print this article
Cited Sources:
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. (May 18, 2006). Recalls and Product Safety News. Retrieved May 23, 2006
First Gov For Consumers. (May 9,2006). Product Safety. Retrieved May 23, 2006
Consumer Product Safety Commission. (May 25,2006). Retrieved May 25, 2006
Consumer Product Safety Commission. (2006). Consumer Product Safety Review
Retrieved May 25, 2006