CPSC: Toy-related injuries led to 200,000 emergency room visits in 2023

Experts say a big worry for children younger than three is anything that can cause them to choke or suffocate, including button batteries, small pieces of a toy and water beads.

Gillian Neff and Rose Shannon

Nov 30, 2024, 3:35 PM

Updated 12 days ago

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As people begin their holiday shopping, experts say they need to make sure the presents they purchase are safe.
"We've seen over the past year, over 200,000 trips to the emergency rooms associated with toys and unfortunately about 10 deaths," says Alex Hoehn-Saric, with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The agency says shoppers should make sure gifts are age appropriate and check for any labels on the packaging.
Experts say a big worry for children younger than three is anything that can cause them to choke or suffocate, including button batteries, small pieces of a toy and water beads.
"They're really easy to spill and get lost in the carpet. You're not going to find all of them but your child crawling on the floor will," says Hoehn-Saric.
People who buy a bike or scooter should also buy a helmet.
Hoehn-Saric says if you buy online or shop through a third party, double check that you are on a reputable website.
It's recommended people also check to see if any products they purchase or plan to purchase have any recalls on them, especially if something is purchased second-hand.
CPSC has a list of the latest recalls and people can sign-up for future recall alerts too.