Toy-Related Injuries and Deaths

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has published a report called Toy-Related Deaths and Injuries Calendar Year 2008 that reveals that there were 19 child deaths and 235,300 toy-related injuries for children under the age of 15.  Riding toys caused the most deaths. Some 47% of the injuries treated in emergency rooms were classified as lacerations, contusions, or abrasions with 45% of these to the head or face.   There has been no statistical reduction in the volume of injuries over previous years, which is somewhat disappointing given a general trend toward safer toys and the recent scares and product recalls of toys made in China.  It should be noted that just because a child was playing with a toy while being injured does not imply a product liability claim.