The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimated
that,
in 1984, 588,700 children under 15 years of age were treated in
hospital emergency rooms for toy-related injuries (Table 2).
Thirty-one toy-associated fatalities were reported. Some of the
deaths were related more closely to the child's inability to deal
with
the toy than to problems with the toy, e.g., over one-third of the
deaths involved children who choked on balloons, rode tricycles or
other riding toys into pools, or were struck by motor vehicles
while
riding tricycles or other riding toys (Table 3).
In 1984, the majority of toy-related injuries were lacerations,
contusions, and abrasions when the victims were hit by toys or fell
off, over, or into them. Riding toys, such as tricycles, low-slung
three-wheeled toys, rocking horses, and wagons, were associated
with
more injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms than any other
type
of toy. Other types frequently reported included disk-shaped
flying
toys, toy weapons (such as guns, bows and arrows, and slingshots),
toy
chests, and models (such as cars and airplanes). The next largest
category of injuries involved the ingestion or aspiration of small
toys or parts of toys or insertion of them into the nose or ears.
Such toys included crayons, chalk, marbles, and small parts from
toys.
Injuries involving riding toys, toy boxes, crayons or chalk,
and
blocks tended to occur among children under 5 years of age, while
disk-shaped flying toys, toy weapons, models, and balls tended to
be
associated with injuries to older children.
Most toy-related injuries were fairly minor, about 2.5% of
injuries required hospitalization, compared to an overall 4.2% of
hospitalization for all injuries treated in hospital emergency
rooms
in 1984.
Reported by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington,
D.C..
Editorial Note
Editorial Note: Although CPSC has mandatory safety standards for
electric toys, bicycles, pacifers and infant rattles, toys with
sharp
points and edges, lead paint used on toys, and toys with small
parts,
manufacturers are responsible for ensuring their products meet
these
standards. The Toy Manufacturers of America, Inc. (TMA), has a
voluntary product standard that establishes safety requirements and
tests. In addition, many manufacturers and importers have
extensive
testing programs to assure compliance with the mandatory and
voluntary
standards.
With the renewed interest in skateboards, an estimated 13,500
children under 15 years of age were treated in hospital emergency
rooms during 1984 for injuries associated with skateboards.
Several
factors may have contributed to these injuries: lack of protective
equipment, poor board maintenance, poor riding surface, and not
enough
practice. Many young skateboarders have not developed the
necessary
balance and body control and thus do not react quickly enough to
prevent injury. CPSC recommends the following:
Be familiar with the riding surface. Check for holes,
bumps,
rocks, and any debris before riding. Skateboard parks and
other areas set aside for skateboarding generally have
smoother riding surfaces.
Select skateboards with the knowledge that they are
designed
with varying characteristics for different types of riding
(i.e., slalom, freestyle, or speed). Some boards are
rated
as to the weight of the intended user.
Before using a skateboard, check for hazards, such as
loose,
broken, or cracked parts; sharp edges on metal boards;
slippery top surface; and wheels with nicks and cracks.
Use protective equipment to help absorb the impact of a
fall
or to prevent scrapes and scratches; such equipment
includes
helmets, specially designed padding for hips, knees, and
elbows, wrist braces, and special skateboarding gloves.
Padded jackets and shorts also are being made.
Slip-resistant shoes may help the rider keep his/her
footing
on the skateboard.
When riding a skateboard, never ride in the street; allow
only one person per skateboard; never hitch a ride from a
car
or other vehicle; and learn how to fall to reduce chances
of
being seriously injured in case of an accident.*
Guidelines for selecting toys and for preventing toy-associated
injuries have been published (1). In addition, CPSC has a
toll-free
telephone number ((800) 638-2772) that consumers and others can
call
to ask questions, request information, or file complaints.
Reference
CDC. Toy safety--United States, 1983. MMWR 1984;33:697-8.
*For additional information on skateboard safety, see CPSC's Fact
Sheet No. 93: Skateboards.
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