Prompt Cast
The Danger and Controversy Surrounding Lawn Darts
TLDR Lawn darts, a popular toy in the 70s and 80s, were initially banned due to their high force of impact and danger to children. Despite the ban, individuals can still make or purchase them, leading to ongoing controversy and the need for caution.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Lawn darts were a popular toy in the 70s and 80s, but they posed a significant danger due to their high force of impact.
02:15
Lawn darts were initially banned by the FDA in 1970 due to their dangerous nature, but the lawn dart industry fought back and reached a compromise by agreeing to sell them as sporting goods with a warning label.
04:28
The lawn dart industry fought to bring the banned lawn darts back onto the market by selling them as sporting goods instead of toys.
06:40
Lawn darts were sometimes sold as part of a package deal with other sporting goods, such as a volleyball set, in order to entice customers.
08:50
David Snow, an aerospace engineer, tragically lost his daughter when she was hit in the head by a lawn dart, leading him to become an activist and lobbyist in an attempt to get lawn darts banned again, although the Consumer Product Safety Commission argued that the numbers didn't justify a ban.
10:56
Over the course of eight years, lawn darts sent over 6,000 people to the emergency room, with 81% of those being children 15 or younger, leading to the decision to ban them due to the high number of injuries, especially to the head.
13:03
Despite the ban on lawn darts, individuals can still make their own or purchase parts to assemble them, and there are still tournaments and associations dedicated to the game, although it is advised to keep children away from them.
Categories:
Society & Culture
