Clocks, Electric Or Battery Operated
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.
Floors, Walls & Ceilings · CPSC Code 4065
Down 23% over 5 years
The verdict
Clocks, Electric Or Battery Operated carry a danger score of 32/100 (low risk), driven by roughly 554 ER-treated injuries a year that are declining by about 23% over the last five years.
- 32/100
- danger score (low risk)
- 554
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 9.1%
- end in hospital admission
- 75+
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 4065 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 32/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for clocks, electric or battery operated - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume554 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)9.1%
- Fatality rate0.00%
- 5-year trend-23%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Clocks, Electric Or Battery Operated (CPSC product code 4065, in the Floors, Walls & Ceilings category) generate an estimated 554 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 11,071 ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 32/100 for this category (low risk), combining raw injury volume, demographic reach, severity of outcome, and multi-year trend. The five-year trajectory shows that injury counts are declining by about 23% over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2011 (920 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2023 (143 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for clocks, electric or battery operated is laceration to the head, accounting for approximately 1,102 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by internal injury to the head (980 cases). The 75+ age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 2,414 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 9.1% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 20 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how clocks, electric or battery operated 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.
Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2024)
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 | 950 | 442 | |
| 5-14 | 352 | 292 | |
| 15-24 | 770 | 535 | |
| 25-34 | 172 | 504 | |
| 35-44 | 463 | 565 | |
| 45-54 | 219 | 1,154 | |
| 55-64 | 81 | 1,067 | |
| 65-74 | 324 | 761 | |
| 75+ | 1,002 | 1,412 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Laceration | |
| Head | Internal Injury | |
| Head | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Neck | Strain, Sprain | |
| Internal | Ingestion | |
| Face | Laceration | |
| Head | Concussion | |
| Shoulder | Dislocation | |
| Upper Trunk | Fracture | |
| Face | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Shoulder | Contusions, Abr. | |
| All Parts Body | Electric Shock | |
| Shoulder | Other | |
| Upper Trunk | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Shoulder | Strain, Sprain |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
21YOF PRESENTS TO ED AFTER A HEAD INJURY. PT. STATES SHE ACCIDENTALLY SMASHED HER HEAD AGAINST HER BOYFRIEND'S HEAD WHEN HER ALARM CLOCK WENT OFF THIS MORNING. DX: CONCUSSION W/O LOC
67 YOF GOT UP TO CHANGE A WALL CLOCK BATTERY, STOOD ON A CHAIR, LOST HER BALANCE IN THE PROCESS OF REACHING AND FELL. DX: FRACTURE OF ONE RIB OF RIGHT SIDE
82 YOF HAD A WOODEN CLOCK FALL AND HIT HER FOOT. DX: RIGHT FOOT LACERATION
47 YOM LACERATED HIS THUMB ON A BROKEN CLOCK THAT HAD FALLED OFF OF A WALL,. DX: LEFT THUMB LACERATION
61YOF WHO PRESENTS WITH RIGHT ANKLE PAIN. REPORTS THAT SHE WAS CARRYING A GRANDFATHER CLOCK, WHEN THE TOP OF IT FELL OFF AND STRUCK HER ON THE RIGHT ANKLE. LACERATION TO RIGHT ANKLE. ED DX: INJURY TO RIGHT ANKLE
72 YOM HAD ALARM CLOCK GO OFF, JUMPED OUT OF BED, FELL HIT HEAD. DX CLOSED HEAD INJURY, SCALP LACERATION
7YOF WAS AT SCHOOL WHEN A CLOCK FELL FROM THE WALL ONTO HER HEAD DX: CHI, ABRASION OF SCALP, CONTUSION OF SCALP *
41 YOM. PT WAS HANGING A CLOCK ON THE WALL AND STANDING ON A LADDER WHEN HE FELL INTO HIS LEFT SIDE. NO OTHER DETAILS PROVIDED. DX: RIB CONTUSION.
69YOF WAS REACHING TO TURN OFF THE ALARM CLOCK AND FELL OUT OF BED LANDED ON LEFT SHOULDER DX: FRACTURED LEFT HUMERUS; LIP LACERATION
52YOF WAS SLEEPING AND HER ALARM WENT OFF HER CLOCK ALARM AND SHE FELL STRIKING HER HEAD ON A NIGHTSTAND DX: CLOSED HEAD INJURY
73 YOM WAS HIT BY A CLOCK THAT FELL OFF OF THE WALL. DX: LEFT FOREARM LACERATION.
39YOF SYNCOPAL EPISODE WHILE CLOCKING IN ON CLOCK,AT WORK--DX:SYNCOPE
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
A wireless charger by Vivitar model: Clock FD was so hot it almost caught fire. It melted the bottom of the wireless charging device. This in the middle of the night around 11:30pm.
I went to unplug my Hatch Sleep Restore Alarm Clock from the wall and was violently shocked.
(07/2016) The consumer stated that the night that she purchased the clock, she plugged it in. She got up the next morning and noticed that the bottom of the clock was hot. The consumer unplugged the unit. A month later, she plugged the clock in again. When she got up the next morning, the clock was hot again and the bottom of the clock had melted. The consumer unplugged the clock and tried to get in touch with Sharp. When she contacted the firm at 1-800 BE.SHARP, she was given another number to call but only got voicemail.
This morning I found a chemical type of smell in my 7 and 9 year old boys' bedroom. I localized the smell to my 9 year old's alarm clock which we purchased from Amazon as "Vibrating loud alarm clock with bed shaker for heavy sleepers, deaf, seniors, kids, Large number LED display with dimmer-nightlight-USB phone charger-bat". The alarm clock was extremely hot and the plastic casing was melting. There was nothing plugged into the USB charging ports, no phones being charged. The mattress it was sitting on was extremely hot. The device was not covered by any bedding or toys. The heat transmitted all the way the the AC adaptor where it was plugged in. If I had not found it at that time my son's bed would certainly have caught fire. This product is made in China and is model number CR1008i. I have photos of the melted device.
I purchased a wall clock on Amazon and was pricked by a sharp object while unboxing. There was no warning or protective material to prevent injury.
My son has a Sharp alarm clock. We had it for several months before today. It was plugged into the wall in normal alarm clock fashion. This morning when his alarm went off, it started sparking, caught on fire, and the cord melted off the back. The bottom is bowed out as if there had been an internal explosion. Thankfully, he got a minor shock but there were no other injuries and the house did not burn down.
Subject: Urgent Product Safety Complaint Fire Hazard Dear Consumer Product Safety Commission, I am submitting this complaint regarding a dangerous and defective product purchased through Amazon. The product in question is an alarm clock [include product name, model, ASIN if available], sold by [seller name] on Amazons platform. Shortly after plugging in the device, it caused my electrical outlet to catch fire and began burning the battery terminals of the alarm clock. This created a severe fire hazard and posed a serious risk of injury or property damage. Fortunately, I was able to prevent further harm, but the incident demonstrates that this product is unsafe for consumer use. I have attempted to contact both the seller and Amazon regarding this issue, but have not received any response or resolution. I have also left reviews and attempted multiple emails, including direct contacts to Amazon, without success. Given the severity of the hazard, I am formally reporting this product to the CPSC. I have included photos of the damaged outlet and device, as well as documentation of my communications with Amazon and the seller, for your review. Please advise on any additional information you require from me to investigate this matter. I am willing to cooperate fully to prevent this product from causing harm to others. Thank you for your attention to this urgent safety concern. Sincerely, [REDACTED]
Equity Alarm Clock by LaCross Technologies cord at the unit started sparking and unit cord is burned
Showing 8 of 20 reports.
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to clocks, electric or battery operated on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are clocks, electric or battery operated?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, clocks, electric or battery operated have a danger score of 32/100 (low risk). An estimated 554 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from clocks, electric or battery operated?
The most common injury is laceration to the head, accounting for approximately 1,102 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from clocks, electric or battery operated increasing or decreasing?
Down 23% over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for clocks, electric or battery operated injuries?
The 75+ age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 2,414 cases recorded over 20 years. Females are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by clocks, electric or battery operated?
Of all ER visits involving clocks, electric or battery operated, approximately 9.1% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (90.9%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with clocks, electric or battery operated?
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.
Related Products in Floors, Walls & Ceilings
Safety Guides
What this means for you
Treat the 32/100 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 75+ 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.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, scored, and verified.
