Holiday Warning: Aspiration of Toy Parts Continues to Kill Children

During the past 50 years, pediatric aspiration deaths from small toy objects have decreased by 75% but remain a considerable cause of mortality.

The 1969 Child Protection and Toy Safety Act led to a series of efforts to reduce aspiration of small objects by children. Safety measures have since included the introduction of a small parts test cylinder in 1979, a recommendation regarding first aid for choking by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in 1988, and a requirement for choking hazard warnings on toys by the Child Safety Protection Act in 1994. Additional measures regarding recalls and manufacturer accountability were instituted by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act in 2008, and new guidelines on choking prevention were issued by the AAP in 2010.

To examine the effect of these efforts, investigators reviewed aspiration deaths from nonfood objects in children 0 to 1…

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

Holiday Warning: Aspiration of Toy Parts Continues to Kill Children

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Reviewing Author