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Airway obstruction by a ball
1Center for Forensic Sciences, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA.
Insights
A toddler tragically died from choking on a toy ball. Current federal safety standards for toys are insufficient to prevent choking hazards for young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Safety
- Consumer Product Safety
- Public Health
Background:
- Federal safety standards for toys are intended to prevent choking hazards in children under three.
- Concerns regarding the adequacy of the minimum safe diameter for toy balls have existed since 1987.
Observation:
- A toddler died from choking on a toy ball that occluded the upper airway.
- The toy's size met existing federal safety standards for children under three.
Findings:
- The current federal safety standard for toy ball diameter (3.17 cm) is inadequate to prevent choking hazards.
- A 1995 review suggested a more comprehensive standard (4.44 cm diameter, 7.62 cm length).
- Federal warning labels are required for balls smaller than 4.44 cm, but the fixture test diameter is too small.
Implications:
- Existing toy safety regulations may not adequately protect young children from choking risks.
- Revising federal safety standards and testing methods for small toy parts is crucial.
- Enhanced parental awareness and the use of appropriate safety tools are vital for preventing pediatric choking incidents.
Abstract:
A toddler died as the result of choking on a toy ball that occluded his upper airway. The size of this toy was within the federal safety standards for use by children under the age of three years. Though it has been recognized since 1987 that the minimum safe diameter set by the Federal Hazardous Substances Act may be too small, no change has been made to the regulation (1). In 1995 a comprehensive review of asphyxia related to the size of the foreign object found 4.44 cm diameter and 7.62 cm length a more comprehensive standard (1). Currently federal warning labels are required on some items that contain balls smaller than 4.44 cm to prevent use by children less than three years of age (2). The small parts fixture test in use by the federal government is available as a safety tool for parents to use at home. Unfortunately the "safe" diameter of 3.17 cm is too small to provide assurance that a toy is not a choking hazard.