7 Historically Hazardous and Lethal Toys

From lawn darts to bizarre science sets, we’re delving into the globe’s most perilous toy collection in this rundown, inspired by an episode of The List Show on YouTube. Be advised: Some of these tales are heartbreaking.

1. Lawn Darts

During the 1970s and most of the 1980s, children hurling lethal projectiles in the backyard was seen as harmless entertainment. Lawn darts, also known as Jarts, combined elements of classic pub darts and horseshoes. Players would lob hefty, metal-tipped darts with plastic fins into the air, aiming to land them on targets positioned at various distances across the lawn.

You don’t need psychic abilities to foresee the dangers of children carelessly tossing sharp objects in their yards—tragedy struck one California family as proof. In 1987, a 9-year-old boy discovered lawn darts in his family garage, part of an outdoor game set his father had bought. He and his friends took the darts to the backyard, and soon, an overly enthusiastic throw sent one dart flying over the fence. It struck his 7-year-old sister, who was playing with her dolls in the front yard, piercing her skull. Researchers estimated the impact force at up to 23,000 pounds per square inch. She collapsed immediately and passed away three days later. 

This heartbreaking incident motivated her father to campaign against lawn darts. His efforts led the Consumer Product Safety Commission to investigate, revealing over 6100 injuries related to lawn darts in less than 10 years. More than 80% of these injuries affected children aged 15 or younger, often resulting in permanent damage to their heads, eyes, or faces.

Faced with such overwhelming evidence, Jarts were removed from U.S. stores just weeks before Christmas in 1988, with Canada following shortly after. Both countries have maintained the ban ever since, though a safer, spikeless version has reappeared at summer barbecues and backyard events in recent years. 

2. Trampolines

Trampoline: A term that sends shivers down the spines of homeowners with insurance. Before these springy platforms became backyard staples, they were conceived by 16-year-old gymnast George Nissen, inspired by the safety nets beneath circus trapezes during a 1930 visit. He experimented by dismantling his bed and stretching canvas over the frame, much to his father’s frustration. After numerous prototypes, the U.S. military utilized Nissen’s creation in WWII to train pilots in spatial orientation. NASA later adopted trampolines to prepare astronauts for space conditions. 

However, it’s not these specialized uses that typically cause harm—it’s the backyard versions that account for the majority of the 100,000 trampoline-related injuries reported annually. Most accidents occur when multiple children are bouncing simultaneously, a trend also linked to the rise in injuries at trampoline parks. 

What starts as fun can quickly turn dangerous, with broken arms being among the less severe injuries. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that failed stunts can lead to lifelong cervical spine damage. 

3. Slip ‘N Slide

In the summer of 1960, Robert Carrier came home from work to discover his son and friends had turned their painted concrete driveway into a makeshift waterslide using a hose. Concerned about potential injuries from the hard surface, Carrier quickly devised a safer alternative using vinyl-coated boat upholstery material, adding a hose tube along the side. 

This clever yet straightforward invention was acquired by Wham-O and launched in 1961. By September, over 300,000 slides had been purchased. However, reports of injuries soon emerged—and not just among children. While kids did sustain injuries, most were minor, like bumps and bruises, with a few unfortunate exceptions. Adults, on the other hand, faced more severe consequences. Their greater weight prevented them from gliding smoothly, often causing abrupt stops that forced their body weight into their necks. 

In the worst cases, this led to neck injuries, quadriplegia, paraplegia, and even fatalities. Documented incidents included six adults with broken necks, an 8-year-old with brain damage, at least one death in the 1970s, and 5000 injuries in 1988 alone. Victims received millions in compensation for their injuries.

The lesson? Always follow the age restrictions on the packaging—they exist for a reason.

4. Lead-Painted Toys

Life was already tough for Victorian children—BBC reports indicate that kids in 1850s England and Wales faced a 25 percent chance of dying before turning 5. This high mortality rate stemmed from various factors, including multiple cholera outbreaks. However, toys covered in lead paint only worsened the situation—and if not painted, they were often entirely made of lead. 

To clarify, humanity has known about lead's dangers for centuries—even the ancient Romans were aware. Despite this, toy makers continued using lead due to its versatility, and many believed limited exposure was harmless. In fact, low-level daily exposure was considered safe. As we now understand, this belief was deeply mistaken. 

While the exact number of child deaths from lead poisoning via toys remains unknown, such tragedies still occur. In 2006, a 4-year-old Minneapolis boy died from poisoning after chewing on a lead-contaminated trinket. Since 1978, it has been illegal for toys to contain more than .06 percent lead by weight in their paint or coatings. However, non-compliant toys still exist. In 2007, Mattel’s Fisher-Price recalled 1.5 million toys after the Consumer Product Safety Commission found some contained lead levels 180 times the legal limit. The company paid $2.3 million in civil penalties in 2009 but denied any legal violations.

5. “Gun Fighter” Toy Cork Gun

In 1976 and 1977, Eagle Family Discount Stores in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama sold the “Gun Fighter” Toy Cork Gun for a mere $1.27. Children, known for taking things apart, soon found they could remove the muzzle and the protective plastic plunger caps, exposing two metal rods. If fired, these rods could shoot forward, risking injury to a child’s face or eyes. A 3-year-old boy experienced this firsthand. The toy was recalled in 1979.

6. Atomic Laboratory Kits

Lead toys appear almost harmless compared to the Gilbert Atomic Energy Lab, which featured uranium as one of its primary components. Launched in 1950, this kit allowed children to perform over 150 experiments, complete with four types of uranium ore and sources of beta-alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. The set included fascinating tools like a cloud chamber for observing atomic decay and a personal Geiger counter. A 60-page manual even provided tips on uranium prospecting.

By this time, it was well-known that uranium was radioactive and posed health risks. In 1927, Hermann Joseph Muller discovered that radiation could cause harmful mutations, earning him a Nobel Prize in 1946. Despite this, uranium was included in the kit four years later, with only a stern warning: “Users should not remove ore samples from their jars, as they may flake and crumble, risking the spread of radioactive material in your lab.” 

Evidently, the warning wasn’t enough to save the Atomic Energy Lab from discontinuation. It was withdrawn in 1951 after selling fewer than 5000 units.

7. Zulu Toy Gun

The “Zulu Toy Gun,” sold in the late 1960s, had numerous issues, but one standout was an ad claiming, “A slight puff into the gun and the arrow shoots with hurricane speed.” Children often loaded dangerous projectiles like needles into the gun and inhaled deeply before firing, leading to a wave of plastic dart inhalation incidents in ERs nationwide. In 1969, the National Commission on Product Safety recommended banning the toy, despite its packaging boldly declaring it “HARMLESS.”