For the past several months I have been going to Northlake Mall to teach my daughter to share. The plan was to come up with something fun to have her give away and then see the fruit of her labor aka popularity and community play. I landed on Balloons. Kids cannot swing or throw them hard enough to hurt each other. On a couple occasions a mother would be very concerned about balloons around their child. To ease my mind, I did some research to find out the truth.
For perspective, of the 5000 toddler deaths in 2000 only 1 was the cause of a balloon. Before we knew balloons were dangerous (in the 1980s) around 11 kids died each year from balloon related accidents. In the 1990s, the number dropped to 6 because of warning labels and public awareness. Today it is almost nonexistent. I cannot find any statistics past 2001 which was 4 deaths. Clearly there are not enough deaths to warrant significant research or acknowledgement. Also please note that there were only 17 toy related deaths in 2000. It seems your child is 2500% more likely to be the victim of a homicide than to die from playing with his toys. Your child is 50,000% more likely to die in your car than from a balloon.
The CPSC, Consumer Product Safety Commission, "does not believe that a completely inflated balloon presents a hazard to young children. If the balloon breaks, however, CPSC recommends that parents immediately collect the pieces of the broken balloon and dispose of them out of the reach of young children." In other words, inflated balloons are of no concern at all. However, it is wise to pick up broken pieces. Furthermore, the CPSC decided against passing a mandatory law to put a warning label on balloon packaging. All current warnings are voluntary from the balloon manufactures.
So how do kids choke themselves? The majority of children were trying to blow them up and they accidentally suck them down. The most common way is when Children try to blow up broken pieces and/or suck them in to create bubbles. (Please read the CPSC Pamphlet linked below)
For the good news, the safest time in a person’s life is from 1 to 14 year of age. Fewer humans die during that age. A human is 4 times more likely to die between the ages of 15 to 19. A human is 6 times more likely to die between the ages of 20 to 24. A human is 9 times more likely to die between the ages of 35 to 39. A human is 23 times more likely to die between the ages of 45 to 49. A human is 38 times more likely to die between the ages of 55 to 59. Your children need your love and affection more than your protection. It is another story once they start driving . . . then it is time for fear ; )
For real concerns, the statistics seem to discourage the use of candy, gum, or giving your kids coins. I would like to thank the Center for Disease Control, the Balloon Counsel, and Consumer Product Safety Commission for their research and informative websites.
That's right there is a balloon counsel! This is there facts page on balloons and the risky business of latex and infant death!!!
http://www.balloonhq.com/BalloonCouncil/facts.html
Consumer Product Safety Commission Pamphlet on the how and why of balloon related child’s death. "The CPSC does not believe that a completely inflated balloon presents a hazard to young children. If the balloon breaks, however, CPSC recommends that parents immediately collect the pieces of the broken balloon and dispose of them out of the reach of young children."
http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/5087.pdf
This report gives the Toy-Related Deaths and Injuries stats (25 deaths in 2001: 4 Balloon Related):
http://www.cpsc.gov/LIBRARY/toydth01.pdf
This report gives the Toy-Related Deaths and Injuries stats (17 deaths in 2000; 1 Balloon related):
http://www.cpsc.gov/LIBRARY/toydth00.pdf
This report gives the statistics on infant death for 2001
http://www.statisticstop10.com/Causes_of_Death_Infants.html
This report gives the statistics on toddler death for 2001 (Traffic Accidents are the #1 cause of death)
http://www.statisticstop10.com/Causes_of_Death_Toddlers.html
If you like to read, this is the 100 page detailed report of every death in America from 2005-6. Page 17 gives general stats on infant death
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr58/nvsr58_14.pdf
Another long read but very cool: Most interesting fact you are lease likely to die between the ages of 1 and 14 years of age in some cases by a factor of 100. (Page 22 of the report)
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr57/nvsr57_14.pdf
This report is specifically on choking: Pretty good argument against candy and gum. The surprise on non edible items- the majority of kids choke on coins.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5142.pdf
More toy stats on how the kids died from the toy related accidents
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00050473.htm#00002853.htm
The CPSC decides the government doesn't need to mandate the warnings on Balloons.
http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml92/92067.html
For perspective, of the 5000 toddler deaths in 2000 only 1 was the cause of a balloon. Before we knew balloons were dangerous (in the 1980s) around 11 kids died each year from balloon related accidents. In the 1990s, the number dropped to 6 because of warning labels and public awareness. Today it is almost nonexistent. I cannot find any statistics past 2001 which was 4 deaths. Clearly there are not enough deaths to warrant significant research or acknowledgement. Also please note that there were only 17 toy related deaths in 2000. It seems your child is 2500% more likely to be the victim of a homicide than to die from playing with his toys. Your child is 50,000% more likely to die in your car than from a balloon.
The CPSC, Consumer Product Safety Commission, "does not believe that a completely inflated balloon presents a hazard to young children. If the balloon breaks, however, CPSC recommends that parents immediately collect the pieces of the broken balloon and dispose of them out of the reach of young children." In other words, inflated balloons are of no concern at all. However, it is wise to pick up broken pieces. Furthermore, the CPSC decided against passing a mandatory law to put a warning label on balloon packaging. All current warnings are voluntary from the balloon manufactures.
So how do kids choke themselves? The majority of children were trying to blow them up and they accidentally suck them down. The most common way is when Children try to blow up broken pieces and/or suck them in to create bubbles. (Please read the CPSC Pamphlet linked below)
For the good news, the safest time in a person’s life is from 1 to 14 year of age. Fewer humans die during that age. A human is 4 times more likely to die between the ages of 15 to 19. A human is 6 times more likely to die between the ages of 20 to 24. A human is 9 times more likely to die between the ages of 35 to 39. A human is 23 times more likely to die between the ages of 45 to 49. A human is 38 times more likely to die between the ages of 55 to 59. Your children need your love and affection more than your protection. It is another story once they start driving . . . then it is time for fear ; )
For real concerns, the statistics seem to discourage the use of candy, gum, or giving your kids coins. I would like to thank the Center for Disease Control, the Balloon Counsel, and Consumer Product Safety Commission for their research and informative websites.
That's right there is a balloon counsel! This is there facts page on balloons and the risky business of latex and infant death!!!
http://www.balloonhq.com/BalloonCouncil/facts.html
Consumer Product Safety Commission Pamphlet on the how and why of balloon related child’s death. "The CPSC does not believe that a completely inflated balloon presents a hazard to young children. If the balloon breaks, however, CPSC recommends that parents immediately collect the pieces of the broken balloon and dispose of them out of the reach of young children."
http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/5087.pdf
This report gives the Toy-Related Deaths and Injuries stats (25 deaths in 2001: 4 Balloon Related):
http://www.cpsc.gov/LIBRARY/toydth01.pdf
This report gives the Toy-Related Deaths and Injuries stats (17 deaths in 2000; 1 Balloon related):
http://www.cpsc.gov/LIBRARY/toydth00.pdf
This report gives the statistics on infant death for 2001
http://www.statisticstop10.com/Causes_of_Death_Infants.html
This report gives the statistics on toddler death for 2001 (Traffic Accidents are the #1 cause of death)
http://www.statisticstop10.com/Causes_of_Death_Toddlers.html
If you like to read, this is the 100 page detailed report of every death in America from 2005-6. Page 17 gives general stats on infant death
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr58/nvsr58_14.pdf
Another long read but very cool: Most interesting fact you are lease likely to die between the ages of 1 and 14 years of age in some cases by a factor of 100. (Page 22 of the report)
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr57/nvsr57_14.pdf
This report is specifically on choking: Pretty good argument against candy and gum. The surprise on non edible items- the majority of kids choke on coins.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5142.pdf
More toy stats on how the kids died from the toy related accidents
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00050473.htm#00002853.htm
The CPSC decides the government doesn't need to mandate the warnings on Balloons.
http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml92/92067.html
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