Study looks into toy-related injuries with children

Tennessee residents may be interested to learn about the prevalence of toy-related injuries in the United States. According to information that was analyzed by the Center for Injury Research and Policy at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, over 3.2 million kids visited the emergency room for toy-related injuries between the years of 1990 and 2011.

In 2011 alone, a child was treated at the emergency room for a toy-related injury every three minutes in the U.S. Injuries from toys are apparently more common in babies and toddlers, as over half of the children who were treated for injuries were under 5 years old. For children under 3 years old, the most common injuries were related to choking hazards.

The study found that riding toys were a particular safety concern for children of all ages. Riding toys accounted for 28 percent of all injuries suffered by children under 5 years old. Forty-two percent of injuries suffered by children between the ages of 5 and 17 involved a riding toy. Although bikes, tricycles and wagons caused a significant number of injuries, the most dangerous ride for children was found to be the foot-powered scooter. Since their reinvention in 2000, modern foot-powered scooters have been blamed for a dramatic increase in child injury rates.

Although it is understood that certain safety precautions must be taken with active toys, there are cases where toy manufacturers can be held accountable for injuries caused by their toys. If a child was injured because of a poorly or defectively designed toy, the child’s parents may be able to file a claim for compensation on their child’s behalf. Many parents in this situation choose to seek help from an attorney while building a product liability claim.

Source: Main Street, “The Most Dangerous Toys Revealed — And They’re Not Toy Weapons or Choking Hazards”, Hal Bundrick, December 01, 2014