Hammocks
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.
Swimming, Water & Beach Equipment · CPSC Code 5037
Up 19% over 5 years
The verdict
Hammocks carry a danger score of 37/100 (low risk), driven by roughly 4,329 ER-treated injuries a year that are rising by about 19% over the last five years.
- 37/100
- danger score (low risk)
- 4,329
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 3.6%
- end in hospital admission
- 5-14
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 5037 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 37/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for hammocks - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume4,329 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)3.6%
- Fatality rate0.00%
- 5-year trend+19%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Hammocks (CPSC product code 5037, in the Swimming, Water & Beach Equipment category) generate an estimated 4,329 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 86,570 ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 37/100 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 rising by about 19% over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2022 (6,556 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2006 (2,401 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for hammocks is internal injury to the head, accounting for approximately 15,383 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by laceration to the head (6,418 cases). The 5-14 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 35,357 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 26 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how hammocks 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 | 6,368 | 5,587 | |
| 5-14 | 17,279 | 18,078 | |
| 15-24 | 2,966 | 6,152 | |
| 25-34 | 2,348 | 4,804 | |
| 35-44 | 2,553 | 3,276 | |
| 45-54 | 2,349 | 4,363 | |
| 55-64 | 1,896 | 3,063 | |
| 65-74 | 1,354 | 1,937 | |
| 75+ | 798 | 1,402 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Internal Injury | |
| Head | Laceration | |
| Face | Laceration | |
| Head | Concussion | |
| Shoulder | Fracture | |
| Lower Trunk | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Upper Trunk | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Lower Trunk | Other | |
| Lower Arm | Fracture | |
| Neck | Strain, Sprain | |
| Head | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Upper Trunk | Other | |
| Wrist | Fracture | |
| Lower Trunk | Strain, Sprain | |
| Face | Contusions, Abr. |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
5YOM COMES TO THE ER AFTER FALL AND HEAD LACERATION. HE WAS SWINGING IN A HAMMOCK WITH IS SISTER AND WHEN SHE GOT OUT HE FELL OUT AND HIT HIS HEAD ON THE GROUND. EXAM SHOWS LACERATION ON TOP OF HEAD. DX: LACERATION HEAD
58YOF WAS IN HAMMOCK WHEN SHE FELL OUT ONTO HER HEAD DX:CLOSED HEAD INJURY
11 YOF FELL OFF HAMMOCK HIT POLE DX; CHI
6YOF FELL AT HOME AND HIT HEAD ON A HAMMOCK STAND. DX: EAR LACERATION
12 YOF HIT HEAD ON SOMETHING ON HAMMOCK DX; FOREHEAD CONTUSION
11YOM WAS IN A HAMMOCK THAT WAS BEING SWUNG BY A FRIEND WHEN HE FELL OUT OF THE HAMMOCK AND LANDED ON HIS RIGHT SHOULDER DX: INJURY OF RIGHT SHOULDER
44YOF PRESENTS TO THE ED AFTER THE PATIENT FELL FROM A HAMMOCK FALLING DIRECTLY ON HER BACK COMPLAINING OF PAIN. DX: FALL, FALL INVOLVING HAMMOCK, BACK PAIN, FRACTURED COCCYX
10 YOM FELL OFF HAMMOCK LANDED ON TOY CUT HEAD DX LACERATION SCALP
69YOM TAKES *** AND PRESENTS AFTER HE FELL OUT OF A HAMMOCK LANDING ON HIS RIGHT SIDE. ALSO HAS RIGHT CALF PAIN AND SWELLING THAT BEGAN WHILE HE WAS WALKING UP THE STAIRS. DX: CONTUSION OF RIB ON RIGHT SIDE, RIGHT LEG SWELLING
4YOF FELL OFF A HAMMOCK. DX: FACIAL ABR
12YOM PRESENTS TO ED FOR EVALUATION OF HEAD INJURY. REPORTS FELL OUT OF HAMMOCK WITHOUT LOC BUT +HEADSTRIKE. REPORTS VOMITING AND HAS COMPLAINTS OF PERSISTENT HEADACHE. ED DX: HEAD TRAUMA; TRANSIENT ALTERATION OF AWARENESS; CONTUSION OF BRAIN WITH LOSS OF CONCIOUSNESS.
44YOM, COMPLAINING OF PERSISTENT SHOULDER PAIN THAT STARTED A MONTH AGO AFTER SLEEPING ON A HAMMOCK, DX: CHRONIC LEFT SHOULDER PAIN
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
I bought a Vivere 2 person hammock. When the hammock was hooked up and sat in, the ropes on one side snapped and the person fell to the ground hitting her head. The ropes were tied together in a knot and the hammock was tried again. the other side of the hammock ropes started to crackle and also ripped apart, making the person fall to the ground a second time, this time hitting their legs and rear end on the ground.
I laid on the hammock and when I tried to move up alittle the hook popped out and I fell first hitting my head very bad on the pole thats angled and landing on the pole that is on the ground which resulted in me not being able to walk the next morning without having back spasms. I produced a bruise from the top of my tailbone that became extremely wide also over my buttock. I had to go to urgent care and got x-rayed for my tailbone and was given a shot to help with the spasms.
I was given a binxy baby shopping cart hammock as a baby gift. Today, I was in target using it with my baby (born 5-9-17). The hammock was installed on the cart as instructed and she was bucked in. After some time, she wriggled out in a way that made her head come over one side of the hammock and become stuck between the hammock and the far end of the cart. Not only was her head stick such that she couldn't free it, her head and neck were in a very unnatural pisition. I had only looked away for seconds and I freed her immediately. She seems fine. I think the hammock is problematic, particularly when the cart it is used on has sides that are not nearly parallel. The baby leans to one side and their head can too easily come off the hammock and hang down and even become stuck, as my daughter' did.
We set up the hammock as directed in the instructions and the ring/tie mechanism failed when someone who was laying in the hammock tried to get out of the hammock. The weight limit is for 400 lbs, and the individual is well-under the weight limit at 280 lbs. They attempted to get out, but the ring/tie mechanism failed at the same time and he fell to the ground. With only slight bruising on his bottom, he was fine, but the recall on this item states that it is only for items sold just 2 months earlier, and I believe this product also belongs in this category.
the item was purchased online at walmart.com. The supplier is costway. The pod hammock swing broke with my 8 yr old son in the seat. He fell from the swing, it ripped at the top, and as a result received a concussion. He was transported to the ER by ambulance. He had difficulity walking and talking. He was in great pain. The product is aimed at children. The swing did not break at any seam, it ripped below the ring that hooks to the c stand. This product is extremely unsafe. I asked the company to add a warning label so other children wont get harmed, but they refused to communicate with me. My son should never never been in that swing, because it is dangerous. I read online that many of their items are not properly made. Someone please help, so no other child gets hurt. My son is autistic and this swing is aimed at children with special needs. This is dangerous.
I have Garden Treasures Hammock (Item #: 206254 | Model #:SC-XHMK-NN) bought at Lowes in April 2010. On August 20, 2011 the stitching in the end seam of hammock bed came apart with my 7 year old son (weighs about 60 lbs) sitting on it and he fell. He was just sitting, not bouncing or jumping. It appears that the stitching is made from a thin cotton, non-durable tread. The tread was certainly not suitable for an outdoor product. It creates a very foreseeable safety/falling hazard. While my son only sustained minor bumps and bruises it could have been much worse had an adult been laying prone on the hammock. Customer reviews on Lowes website indicate this is a common problem. Your assistance in getting this hazardous product off the market is needed. Thank you [REDACTED]
Mac Sports folding hammock.Plastic joint holding base to upright support snapped in half causing hammock to drop suddenly on side that broke.
The Z hook on one end of my hammock stand broke while I was laying on it this week and I fell down onto the grass and across the bar at the bottom of the hammock stand.
Showing 8 of 26 reports.
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to hammocks on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are hammocks?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, hammocks have a danger score of 37/100 (low risk). An estimated 4,329 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from hammocks?
The most common injury is internal injury to the head, accounting for approximately 15,383 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from hammocks increasing or decreasing?
Up 19% over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for hammocks injuries?
The 5-14 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 35,357 cases recorded over 20 years. Females are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by hammocks?
Of all ER visits involving hammocks, 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 hammocks?
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 Swimming, Water & Beach Equipment
Safety Guides
What this means for you
Treat the 37/100 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 5-14 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.