40
CPSC NEISS Data 2005–2024

Cardboard Products

Twenty years of CPSC NEISS emergency-room records for this consumer product category, combined with demographic breakdowns, multi-year injury trends, and matching recall notices.

Containers & Packaging · CPSC Code 1114

Stable over 5 years

The verdict

Cardboard Products carry a danger score of 40/100 (moderate risk), driven by roughly 17,734 ER-treated injuries a year that are roughly flat over the last five years.

40/100
danger score (moderate risk)
17,734
ER visits per year (avg)
3.6%
end in hospital admission
25-34
most-injured age group

Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 1114 - last data year 2024.

PlainSafety danger score

0/100100/10040/100
PlainSafety danger score

Source: CPSC NEISS danger-score model As of 2024

How this 40/100 score is built

The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for cardboard products - no opinion, no editorializing:

  • Injury volume17,734 ER visits/yr
  • Severity (hospitalization rate)3.6%
  • Fatality rate0.00%
  • 5-year trend+9%

See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.

What the CPSC Data Shows

Cardboard Products (CPSC product code 1114, in the Containers & Packaging category) generate an estimated 17,734 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 354,678 ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 40/100 for this category (moderate risk), combining raw injury volume, demographic reach, severity of outcome, and multi-year trend. The five-year trajectory shows that injury counts are roughly flat over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2022 (23,695 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2011 (10,024 estimated visits).

The single most common ER diagnosis for cardboard products is laceration to the finger, accounting for approximately 39,019 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by strain, sprain to the lower trunk (31,766 cases). The 25-34 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 52,281 cases over the NEISS window, and females appear slightly more often than the opposite sex in that cohort. Severity outcomes from the NEISS disposition field show that 3.6% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer.

Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 21 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how cardboard products fail in real households. Every figure on this page comes from CPSC-published data: NEISS projects national estimates from a probability sample of about 100 U.S. hospital emergency departments, while SaferProducts.gov collects voluntary reports from consumers, manufacturers, and clinicians. The danger score, trend indicators, and demographic breakdowns update automatically when CPSC releases a new yearly NEISS file, which is why this page is dated 2024-12-31. For regulatory context, consult CPSC recall notices and the SaferProducts.gov public database linked below.

17,734
Injuries / Year
3.6%
Hospitalization Rate
0.00%
Fatality Rate

Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2024)

5K10K15K20K25K 20052008201120142017202020232024 22K
Estimated annual emergency-room visits for Cardboard Products, CPSC NEISS

Source: CPSC NEISS national injury estimates As of 2024

Source: CPSC NEISS national estimates CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only

Who Gets Injured?

Age Group Male Female Total
0-4 10,998 7,403 18,401
5-14 19,901 12,281 32,182
15-24 22,127 18,540 40,772
25-34 24,958 27,323 52,281
35-44 24,293 26,011 50,304
45-54 22,778 27,821 50,599
55-64 19,102 25,768 44,870
65-74 12,303 21,180 33,483
75+ 11,337 20,446 31,783

Most Common Injuries

Body Part Diagnosis Est. Injuries
Finger Laceration 39,019
Lower Trunk Strain, Sprain 31,766
Lower Trunk Other 21,284
Hand Laceration 16,995
Eyeball Contusions, Abr. 16,712
Head Internal Injury 11,057
Upper Trunk Other 9,403
Shoulder Strain, Sprain 8,894
Lower Leg Laceration 7,712
Lower Arm Laceration 7,232
Face Laceration 7,053
Upper Trunk Strain, Sprain 6,242
Shoulder Other 6,112
Ankle Strain, Sprain 5,997
Upper Leg Laceration 5,420

Severity Breakdown

Treated/examined And Released 94.8% (336,235)
Treated And Admitted/hospitalized 3.1% (10,827)
Left Without Being Seen 1.1% (4,024)
Treated And Transferred 0.7% (2,511)
Held For Observation 0.3% (1,100)

ER Visit Narratives

Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.

Age 65 · Female · Wrist · Other · 2024

65 YOF REPORTS SHE MOVED HER FROM *** AND HAS BEEN MOVING BOXES FOR 4 DAYS. C/O RIGHT WRIST PAIN. DX: CMC ARTHRITIS

Age 67 · Male · Face · Fracture · 2024

67 YOM WAS STOMPING ON A BOX AND GOT DIZZY AND FELL HITTING HIS HEAD ON A METAL DOG BOWL. DX: MAXILLARY FRACTURE, ORBIT FRACTURE

Age 56 · Male · Foot · Other · 2024

56YOM WITH C/O LEFT FOOT PAIN AFTER ACCIDENTALLY DROPPING ABOUT A 30 POUND BOX ON TOP OF HIS LEFT FOOT EARLIER TODAY. DX: FOOT PAIN

Age 51 · Male · Lower Trunk · Strain, Sprain · 2024

51YOM WHO STATES HE THREW HIS BACK OUT AS HE WAS LOADING HIS SEMI-TRAILER AND WAS LOADING A BOX. HE STUMBLED FORWARD, TRYING NOT TO DROP THE BOX AND THREW HIS BACK OUT. DX: LUMBAR STRAIN.

Age 57 · Female · Shoulder · Fracture · 2024

57YOF WITH RIGHT SHOULDER PAIN AND ELBOW PAIN AFTER MECHANICAL TRIP AND FALL, SHE TRIPPED OVER AN *** BOX. DX: FRACTURE OF HUMERAL HEAD, RIGHT, INFERIOR SUBLUXATION OF HUMERUS, RIGHT ELBOW PAIN

Age 212 · Female · Face · Contusions, Abr. · 2024

12MOF WAS SITTING INSIDE A CARDBOARD BOX AND WAS PLAYING WHEN SHE TIPPED THE BOX OVER AND FELL FACE FIRST INTO THE HARDWOOD FLOOR. DX: FACIAL ABRASION

Age 31 · Male · Hand · Laceration · 2024

31 YOM CUTTING CARDBOARD BOXES WITH BOX CUTTER CUT HAND DX LACERATION HAND

Age 23 · Male · Lower Trunk · Strain, Sprain · 2024

23YOM HAS BEEN MOVING AND HAS BEEN CARRYING ALOT OF BOXES AND MOVING FURNITURE. COMPLAINS OF PAIN IN LOW BACK THAT RADIATES DOWN HIS LEG. DX: STRAIN OF LUMBOSACRAL REGION, SCIATICA

Age 55 · Female · Upper Trunk · Other · 2024

55 YOF WAS WALKING IN THE KITCHEN, AND HER FOOT GOT CAUGHT ON A CARDBOARD BOX, AFTER WHICH SHE SLIPPED AND HIT HER HEAD ON THE FRIDGE. +BACK PAIN. DX: FALL.

Age 41 · Male · Eyeball · Laceration · 2024

41 YOM PRESENTS WITH LEFT EYE PAIN. HE INITIALLY INJURED HIS EYE ON 1/4/24, STATING HE CUT IT DOWN THE CENTER WITH A PIECE OF CARDBOARD. HE SAW HIS EYE DOCTOR. TODAY WITH INCREASED EYE PAIN, WATERY DISCHARGE AND SOME SWELLING AROUND EYE. HE WENT TO AN URGENT CARE WHO REFERRED HIM TO THE ED DX CORNEAL INJURY, PRESEPTAL CELLULITIS

Age 52 · Male · Shoulder · Other · 2024

52 YOM C/O SHOULDER PAIN AFTER LIFTING SEVERAL CARDBOARD BOXES DX SHOULDER PAIN

Age 46 · Male · Lower Trunk · Laceration · 2024

46YOM WAS AT HOME AND WAS TRYING TO CUT OPEN A PACKAGE WITH A KNIFE AND CUT HIS LOWER ABDOMINAL WALL DX: LACERATION TO LOWER ABDOMINAL WALL

Consumer Incident Reports

Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.

8/9/2024 · Injury, Seen by Medical Professional · Fizzgarden · North Carolina

7/25/2024: The product arrived, and some type of substance leaked from the packaging box onto the palm side of the consumer’s left hand. The consumer has experienced a tingling feeling on her hand, which later extended up her arm and to her chest. The consumer went to the ER and has been to the doctor a total of 4 times, because of her pain. These shower steamers can be placed in the shower, and they create steam and a scent. The product comes in a heavy-duty plastic and very secure shipping material. The consumer has ordered this exact brand many times in the past and never experienced any problems. The consumer reported this incident to the retailer. 7/25/2024: The consumer received a letter from the retailer advising her to let them know if she needed to see a doctor and they would help with medical expenses. 7/26/2024: The doctor at Urgent Care advised the consumer to contact Poison Control, which she did. The Poison Control representative said the symptoms resemble exposure to fiberglass. The consumer called the retailer and was directed to various numbers, before reaching their headquarters. She was then directed to [REDACTED] (their Claims Department). The symptoms continued and the consumer visited the ER, because of the pain with her heart. The test came back fine, but the consumer was referred to a heart specialist. However, without knowing what the substance is, the doctors cannot provide any guidance. 7/29/2024: The consumer received a letter from the retailer, indicating that her case would be reviewed, and someone would get back in touch with her.

8/24/2012 · Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received · LIGNA USA, INC · California

Caller ordered shipment of two large pieces of furniture July 28th, 2012 which were both delivered Thursday, August 23rd, 2012. She began opening and removing approximately four layers of padding which consisted of cardboard, plastic wrap, cellophane, [REDACTED] then particle board pieces at the bottom. She developed a headache, tiredness, and began sneezing often while opening the first box, then after she unwrapped the second box, she became ill, she was regurgitating and becoming more and more listless and then laid down. She is fine today but wanted to report these odors from what she believes is obvously dangerous fumes/chemicals that was wrapping the furniture. Caller did not received medical attention, she treated herself with rest and fluids. She contacted the manufacturer, spoke [REDACTED] who asked if she wanted to ship the furniture pieces back to them, apologized and said that she "would make a note of the incident". Caller is reporting this product and the affect it had on her because she is thinking more of the elderly or the very young and any potential long term affects these wrappings may have on them or have possibly had on her long term health.

8/12/2024 · Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional · Spindrift Beverage Co · Virginia

I picked up a box of spindrift sodas and the cardboard cut my finger

7/7/2018 · Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional · PepsiCo, Inc. · Texas

In the past year, I have been having a harder and harder time opening cardboard boxes like cereal, crackers and soft drink containers. The edges are very sharp and I keep getting cut. My skin is very delicate but I doubt that I am the only one this is happening to. It is like there is some type of plastic added to the cardboard. Thank you.

7/7/2018 · Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional · Kellogg Company · Texas

In the past year, I have been having a harder and harder time opening cardboard boxes like cereal, crackers and soft drink containers. The edges are very sharp and I keep getting cut. My skin is very delicate but I doubt that I am the only one this is happening to. It is like there is some type of plastic added to the cardboard. Thank you.

7/7/2018 · Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional · Kellogg Company · Texas

In the past year, I have been having a harder and harder time opening cardboard boxes like cereal, crackers and soft drink containers. The edges are very sharp and I keep getting cut. My skin is very delicate but I doubt that I am the only one this is happening to. It is like there is some type of plastic added to the cardboard. Thank you.

7/7/2018 · Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional · The Coca-Cola Company · Texas

In the past year, I have been having a harder and harder time opening cardboard boxes like cereal, crackers and soft drink containers. The edges are very sharp and I keep getting cut. My skin is very delicate but I doubt that I am the only one this is happening to. It is like there is some type of plastic added to the cardboard. Thank you.

6/2/2015 · Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received · MCDONALD'S CORPORATION · Unspecified

The new McDonalds coffee cup burns when reheated in a microwave. It put a small blister on my pinkie finger as I reached in and grabbed it. There was a brown burn mark on the white cardboard base. I called McDonalds and talked to a rude representative who said very sharply: "That's why we put 'Do Not Microwave' on the cup." WHO READS THE CUP for crying out loud?! I believe there are too many people like myself out there who don't drink their coffee all at once and reheat it to have this kind of product on the market. I will add that it was not posted in an obvious location on the cup and that the cup was very busy with an excessive amount of other writing and decoration.

Showing 8 of 21 reports.

Product Recalls

Search for active and past recalls related to cardboard products on the CPSC website.

Frequently Asked Questions

How dangerous are cardboard products?

Based on 20 years of CPSC data, cardboard products have a danger score of 40/100 (moderate risk). An estimated 17,734 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.

What are the most common injuries from cardboard products?

The most common injury is laceration to the finger, accounting for approximately 39,019 injuries over 20 years.

Are injuries from cardboard products increasing or decreasing?

Stable over 5 years.

Who is most at risk for cardboard products injuries?

The 25-34 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 52,281 cases recorded over 20 years. Females are more frequently injured in this age group.

What happens when someone is injured by cardboard products?

Of all ER visits involving cardboard products, approximately 3.6% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (96.4%) are treated and released from the emergency department.

How can I report a safety problem with cardboard products?

You can file a consumer incident report at SaferProducts.gov, the official CPSC reporting portal. Reports help the CPSC identify emerging hazards and trigger investigations or recalls. You can also call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772.

Safety Guides

What this means for you

Treat the 40/100 score as relative risk between products, not your personal odds of injury.

  • See where this category ranks against every other tracked product. Full rankings
  • Injuries cluster in the 25-34 age group, take extra care if that describes your household.
  • Check for active recalls on this product before you assume it is safe. CPSC recalls

NEISS estimates ER-treated injuries from a national probability sample of hospitals; they do not capture injuries treated elsewhere or not treated at all.

Data: CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the CPSC.