Dangerous toys are more common than you might realize. Every three minutes, a child must be treated in an emergency room for an injury caused by a dangerous toy. In 2009, an estimated 186,000 children under 15 years old were treated in emergency rooms for toy-related injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. In contrast, 152,000 children sustained toy-related injuries in 2005. Dangerous toys were linked to 12 deaths in 2009, down from 24 toy-related fatalities in 2007 and 2008, the CPSC reports.

The CPSC recalled 44 toys in fiscal year 2010, which ended Sept. 30. More have been recalled since then. Click here to find a complete list of recalled toys.

What makes a toy dangerous? Here are some common dangerous toy hazards:

• Choking hazard. Some toys designed for young children have small, detachable parts which children can put in their mouths. That’s why Fisher Price recalled several toys designed for young children.

• Lead paint. Toys that contain unsafe amounts of lead immediately prompt recalls by the federal government. Toys with dangerous amounts of lead paint recently recalled include Double Egg Shakers and Tiny Tink and Friends Children’s Toy Jewelry Sets, specifically the key chains that come with the Disney character toys.

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