The Toy Association Statement on Holiday "Toy-related" Injuries

Safety is the toy industry’s top priority every day of the year. By law, all toys sold in the United States, no matter where in the world they are produced, must meet more than 100 rigorous safety standards and test requirements to ensure the safety of children at play. Product compliance must be verified by a third-party testing laboratory before toys are put on store shelves.

In order to keep pace with innovations in toys, experts from the industry continually work with medical experts, consumer groups, and government officials to further strengthen the stringent design, production, testing, and inspection procedures that ensure the safety of toys.

“Toy-related” injuries are those associated with, but not necessarily caused by, a toy. This indicates simply that a toy was either being used when an injury occurred, or that a toy was peripheral to the incident. It does not indicate that the toy itself caused any harm. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the federal agency that oversees toy safety, toy-related injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms are on the decline for children younger than 15. In recent years, the CPSC has repeatedly stated that they believe toys are safer today than ever before, and annual statistics released by the CPSC indicate that toys are among the safest consumer products found in the home.

Ensuring that all play is safe is a responsibility the toy industry shares with parents and other caregivers. The Toy Association and its members provide resources that help adults select age-appropriate toys, engage with children in supervised play, and make sure that toys are used as intended.

The Toy Association’s top safety tips for parents include:

  • Always follow the age grading on toy packaging. Pay special attention to toys labeled 3+, as these playthings may contain small parts that are a choking hazard to kids under three (or those who still mouth toys).

  • Ensure that children wear proper protective gear (helmets, knee pads, etc.) when playing with ALL ride-on toys, including bicycles, tricycles, scooters, skateboards, and skates.

  • Supervise children during play, and ensure that children are never left alone near water sources (pools, inflatable “kiddie” pools, beaches, etc.), driveways, or high-traffic areas.

  • Organize and store toys to prevent slips, trips, and falls.

Additional information and guidance – from shopping tips to recall information – can be found online at www.PlaySafe.org