The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released two new reports, Toy Related Deaths and Injuries Calendar Year 2019 and Injuries and Deaths Associated with Nursery Products Among Children Younger than Age Five, which present data about emergency department injuries and deaths involving a toy or nursery product.
In 2019, 14 toy-related deaths were reported for children 14 years old and younger as well as 224,200 toy-related injuries for children 14 and younger. The 14 toy-related deaths in 2019 is a decrease from the 23 deaths reported from 2018 and 16 deaths reported from 2017. However, it is likely that the number of toy-related deaths will rise as more data becomes available. Last year, the CPSC reported 17 toy-related deaths in 2018, but that number has been updated to 23 as the agency has received new data. The toys involved in deaths in 2019 were non-motorized scooters, balls, a toy chest, a water toy, and other small toys that led to airway obstruction.
There were 60,600 nursery product related injuries for children 5 years and younger in 2019. The CPSC’s nursery product report also found that there were 357 deaths of children ages 5 and younger between the years of 2015 and 2017, averaging 119 deaths per year. The types of products most associated with deaths were cribs/mattresses, playpens/play yards, bassinets/cradles, infant carriers, and inclined sleep products.
Follow the ABCs of safe sleep: baby is alone and has their own separate sleep space; baby is placed to sleep on their back; and baby sleeps in a crib, play yard or bassinet that meets the federal safety standard. Check out KID’s website to learn more about safe sleep and toy safety.
