Understanding the risks that balloons pose for young children

At Gary C. Johnson, P.S.C., we understand the elements that go into making a safe children’s toy, versus factors that may create a dangerous product. There are many toys available on the market that may seriously injure or kill children. During the upcoming holiday season, it can help you to be informed about the types of dangerous children’s toys you may encounter on the shelves.

There are many toys that pose a choking or suffocation hazard to young children. Balloons are the top cause of fatalities involving suffocation out of all other children’s products, states the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you conduct a quick Internet search, you will find many popular toys that include balloons. The balloons are not necessarily a danger when they’re inflated, according to the CPSC, but they can be deadly when they’re uninflated or broken.

Children can suck a balloon down their throat when attempting to blow it up or when chewing on it. They may also choke on pieces from a broken balloon, such as one that was over-inflated and popped, or a piece of a broken water balloon. It is not recommended that children under the age of eight play unsupervised with uninflated balloons or toys that incorporate the balloon popping as part of the game. If there are uninflated balloons in the packaging or popped balloon pieces, you should remove the balloons from young children’s reach or pick up and throw away broken balloons immediately.

Learn more about hazardous children’s toys and other dangerous products by visiting our page on product liability.