CPSC Says Toy Recalls Down but Choking & Injuries Still Problems
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a press release on toy safety during the holiday season. The release states that there were only 34 toy recalls in fiscal year 2011, down from 172 in 2008, and attributes this to stringent new rules on lead, phthalates, testing, etc. However, a new CPSC report shows that toy-related deaths increased slightly in 2010, largely due to choking, and there were 181,500 toy-associated injuries to children.
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Toy Recalls Dropped due to Stricter Limits, Mandatory Standard, Increased Seizures of Imports
CPSC says the drop in toy recalls can be attributed to the following: the lowest lead content and lead paint limits in the world; a stringent limit on the use of certain phthalates; converting the voluntary toy standards into mandatory standards; requiring third party testing and certification of toys; closing in on new limits for cadmium in toys; and working with the U.S. Customs ad Border Protection to track shipments in transit from other countries, increasing seizure of dangerous imported toys.
Toy-Related Deaths Increased to 17 in 2010, Half Due to Choking
However, a new report released by CPSC on November 16, 2011 shows that toy-related deaths of children younger than 15 increased slightly to 17 reported in 2010, up from 15 in 2009. Nearly half of these toy-related fatalities were attributed to choking on balloons, small balls, and rubber balls.
Scooters Topped List of 181,500 Toy-Associated Injuries in 2010
The report also indicates that about 181,500 children younger than 15 years of age were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments due to toy-related injuries in 2010. Nonmotorized scooters continued to be the category of toys associated with the most injuries. Frequently these injuries involved lacerations, contusions, and abrasions to the child's face and head. Importantly many of the incidents were associated with, but not necessarily caused by, a toy.