Choking, Suffocation and Strangulation Injury

In the year 2000, a total of 23 children between the ages of 1 and 14 died in Canada as a result of unintentional choking, suffocation and strangulation.
Source: Statistics Canada: Canadian Vital Statistics, Catalogue #84-208-XIE, 2000

Between 1982 and 1999, there were 18 playground deaths in Canada. Seventeen of these were due to strangulation when skipping ropes, drawstrings or scarves got caught on playground equipment.
Source: Health Canada

Balloons are the leading non-food cause of choking death in children. Although balloons are not toys, children do play with them. It is dangerous for a child to play with uninflated, broken or deflated balloons because they can choke on them. Throw away pieces of broken balloons promptly. Always blow up balloons for children and supervise children playing with balloons. Providing foil (Mylar) balloons instead of latex balloons for young children’s play is a smart choice.
Source: Health Canada

The Government of Canada has implemented a ban on the advertisement, sale and importation of yo-yo type balls under the Hazardous Products Act due to the unacceptable risk of strangulation. This type of toy, also known as yo-yo balls, yo-balls or water yo-yo balls, is made of extremely pliable plastic with a short, highly stretchable plastic cord that has a liquid-filled ball at one end. Health Canada has received in excess of 20 reported incidents involving these products and in the United Kingdom, eight incidents of near-miss strangulation were reported within one month.
Source: Health Canada Advisory, October 3, 2003

Toy boxes that have heavy, unsupported lids and/or lack holes for ventilation are the second leading cause of toy-related deaths among young children. Make sure that all toy boxes including homemade ones, have a hinged lid designed to stay open under force to prevent the lid from falling and trapping a young child in the toy box. Remove the lid if it does not have this kind of design. All toy boxes with lids should have sufficient holes for ventilation so that if a child climbs inside, he or she does not suffocate.
Source: Health Canada fact sheet "Toys and Safety"

Window blind cords have caused 23 deaths in Canada to date, and 8 deaths in the last 5 years.
Source: Health Canada, April 2004