In 2020, around 198,000 toy-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms – 75% of those happening to children 14 years of age or younger – according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Nine children under 14 were killed in toy-related incidents that year, with those fatal incidents including things like asphyxiation from a balloon or rubber ball, suffocation in a toy chest and choking on small parts of a toy. Other notable findings from the CPSC's report on toy-related deaths and injuries in 2020 include:
  • 42% of emergency department-treated injuries were lacerations, contusions or abrasions. The face and head were the most commonly affected areas of the body.
  • Nonmotorized scooters were associated with the most injuries of any other identified toy for all ages, but were not responsible for any reported deaths in 2020.
  • Building sets were responsible for 9% of injuries among children 4 and younger.
  • With the exception of children 4 years and younger, the CPSC reported a "statistically significant decreasing trend" in estimated toy-related injuries from 2013 to 2020.
In the slideshow above, we look at the toys World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. (W.A.T.C.H.) has declared as their "worst toy" nominees for 2022, and the safety concerns you may want to be aware of if you're considering gifting any of these gadgets this holiday season.

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Brittney Meredith-Miller

Brittney Meredith-Miller is assistant editor of PropertyCasualty360.com. She can be reached at [email protected].

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