Lawn Darts - Banned From Sale in the United States

While the tips of garden darts may not be sharp enough to be obviously dangerous, when misused, lawn darts can cause skull punctures and other serious injuries.

On December 19, 1988, all lawn darts were banned from sale in the United States by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Lawn darts, used in an outdoor game, have been responsible for the deaths of four children, the latest being in early 1997 near Elkhart, Indiana. It should be noted that the specific incident that caused lawn darts to be made illegal also involved beer, and that, when engaged in responsibly, the recreational use of lawn darts is less dangerous than baseball.

Lawn darts remain legal for use in the United Kingdom as well as other countries.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission urges parents to discard or destroy all lawn darts immediately. Lawn darts should not be given away since they may be of harm to others.

Consumers who find lawn darts still being sold, should contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission on the toll free hotline: 1-800-638-CPSC (2772). A teletypewriter for the hearing impaired is available at 1-800-638-8270. Consumers also may write to: Compliance, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207.