Mirrors Or Mirror Glass
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 4004
Down 12% over 5 years
The verdict
Mirrors Or Mirror Glass carry a danger score of 38/100 (low risk), driven by roughly 25,017 ER-treated injuries a year that are declining by about 12% over the last five years.
- 38/100
- danger score (low risk)
- 25,017
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 2.7%
- end in hospital admission
- 15-24
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 4004 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 38/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for mirrors or mirror glass - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume25,017 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)2.7%
- Fatality rate0.00%
- 5-year trend-12%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Mirrors Or Mirror Glass (CPSC product code 4004, in the Floors, Walls & Ceilings category) generate an estimated 25,017 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 500,340 ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 38/100 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 12% over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2011 (28,156 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2023 (21,676 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for mirrors or mirror glass is laceration to the hand, accounting for approximately 101,873 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by laceration to the finger (75,730 cases). The 15-24 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 151,244 cases over the NEISS window, and males appear slightly more often than the opposite sex in that cohort. Severity outcomes from the NEISS disposition field show that 2.7% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 35 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how mirrors or mirror glass 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 | 27,355 | 20,610 | |
| 5-14 | 27,794 | 32,685 | |
| 15-24 | 82,121 | 68,997 | |
| 25-34 | 56,213 | 41,260 | |
| 35-44 | 28,988 | 25,598 | |
| 45-54 | 17,113 | 19,361 | |
| 55-64 | 12,116 | 13,521 | |
| 65-74 | 6,868 | 7,340 | |
| 75+ | 4,688 | 7,531 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Hand | Laceration | |
| Finger | Laceration | |
| Lower Arm | Laceration | |
| Foot | Laceration | |
| Lower Leg | Laceration | |
| Face | Laceration | |
| Head | Internal Injury | |
| Wrist | Laceration | |
| Hand | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Head | Laceration | |
| Toe | Laceration | |
| Foot | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Elbow | Laceration | |
| Upper Leg | Laceration | |
| Ankle | Laceration |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
65 YOM CUT FINGER ON A MIRROR DX: LAC
19YOM PATIENT PUNCHED A MIRROR, HAND LACERATION DX: RIGHT HAND PAIN, LACERATION OF RIGHT HAND WITHOUT FOREIGN BODY
38YOF PRESENTS WITH GREAT TOE INJURY AFTER CUTTING HER TOE ON A PIECE OF GLASS FROM A BROKEN MIRROR. LACERATION ON GREAT TOE. DX: ABRASION
3YOF CHILD SLIPPED BACKWARD INTO A STANDING MIRROR, IT BROKE AND CUT HER THIGH DX: LACERATION OF RIGHT THIGH
19 YOF WAS CLEANING A MIRROR WHEN A PIECE BROKE OFF AND CUT HER FINGER DX FINGER LAC
90 YOF. LEG INJURY AFTER PT WAS IN THE BATHROOM & LARGE MIRROR FELL & STRUCK HER BEHIND HER LEG. DX: LAC OF LT LOWER LEG; CONTUSION OF LEG
4YOF HAD A MIRROR FALL ON TOP OF HER HEAD AT HOME DX: LACERATION TO SCALP
37YOM CUT RIGHT THUMB ON A BROKEN GLASS MIRROR DX: LACERATION FINGER
16YOF CUT WRIST ON A BROKEN MIRROR. DX: LT WRIST LAC
34YOM BIB PD FOR MEDICAL CLEARANCE AFTER BEING ARRESTED. THE PT SUSTAINED LACS TO THE HAND AFTER PUNCHING A MIRROR. DX: LAC OF RT HAND WITHOUT FOREIGN BODY
21YOF INJURED FINGER WHEN PUNCHING A MIRROR. DX: RT HAND LAC
14YOF HAD A MIRROR FALL ONTO LEFT FOOT DX: LACERATION FOOT
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
This is the original email to the BBB of Wisconsin I purchased a Ashley bedroom set a few years ago. We where moving the furniture to another room the other day, when I took of the mirror from the dresser off. The mirror fell out of its wood backing and shattered into a thousand pieces cutting my arm and missing my 3 year old boy by just a few inches. I was horrified at what could have happened. Upon inspecting the wood backing I noticed it only had 4 dabs of glue applied to it to hold this huge heavy mirror and small pastic clips to supposedly keep it in place. I sent numerous emails to Ashley headquarters and they all referred me back to the store that I purchased the product from. I tried to explain to them that there is a problem in the way these mirrors are applied and to look into there manufacturing process because in my mind it is unsafe to only put a small amount of glue on these mirrors. I provided pictures and there response was ...nothing. I replaced the mirror it cost me 86.00 dollars but it was installed correctly. The glass shop couldnt believe that they would use that small amount of glue to apply the mirror. I have tried to express my concern because I dont want this happening to anyone else and all they do is refer me back to the store that I purchased it from. The store cant help me , they dont make the product. Im not looking for a refund I just want the manufacturer made aware of the issue. Since this email Ashley has sent me there spec drawing on how the mirror is applied. It shows a S groove that glue is to be applied. Small dabs of glue are applied in this groove. The glue should have filled the whole groove. Which it did not. The Bedroom set has since been discontinued but Im not sure how many other mirrors with other sets are applied this way. They have offered me an apology on my unfortunate situation but have not said that there is a mistake.in the way the mirrors are applied.. There statement to me was per Quality that the glue is
I purchased a mirror from Amazon.com on 14 May 2022 that was being sold from their vender, The Red Company. After the remodel of the rarely used guest bathroom I installed the mirror on 13 June 2022 above the vanity. On the morning of 7/14/23 the mirror crashed onto the vanity and floor causing damage to both. Only the mirror backing board remained on the wall. Thankfully, the bathroom was unoccupied or it would have required a trip to the ER as the event was so catastrophic. In my observation of the two piece mirror assembly, a thin backing board and the glass mirror, it appears that the adhesive was sparsely used or was the incorrect adhesive to hold the heavy glass mirror. The mirror separated from the backing board leaving the backing board on the wall since the hangers for the mirror assembly are attached to the backing board. This mirror assembly is very dangerous. I have contacted Amazon.com about this safety issue and they were to investigate. I checked the Amazon website at the time of the mirror failure to find that this mirror was not available. I have pictures and have retained the mirror backing board and the largest piece of broken mirror for inspection if needed.
Back in 2014 we purchased two Delta Silverton Oval Mirrors #132892. This past Thursday, one of these came undone from the back tilt bar and crashed to the floor. We realized the glue had dissolved causing this incident. Luckily no one was in the bathroom at the time and we immediately took down the 2nd mirror. These are still being sold at Home Depot where we purchased both of these mirrors. I have now contacted both Delta and Home Depot about this product and its potential safety hazard. Please follow up and contact me.
Approximately 10 months after purchasing a large mirror, the small 1/4" screws pulled out of the MDF board causing the hanger bracket to fail and a 42 lb. mirror fell to floor. Had a person, especially a child, been underneath the mirror when it fell he/she could have been seriously injured or killed. A short 1/4" screw, especially in MDF board, is obviously not strong enough to hold up a 42 lb. mirror. The fact that the mirror will shatter when it falls adds to the danger of this item.
While I was out, the glass mirror door of my medicine cabinet fell completely, hit the toilet, and shattered, spreading broken glass across the bathroom. Fortunately no one was in the home at the time it fell. However, the cabinet door is glass (both sides) and large, 24" x 30". Luckily, the only injuries sustained were minor (cuts on feet from broken glass that had gotten as far as the hallway upon impact before realizing what had happened) If there had been a pet or god forbid a toddler in the room, severe injury or even death could have easily occurred. This occurred in an apartment I purchased and have lived in for approximately 3 months, which underwent a full remodel prior to my moving in, so while I am not certain of the exact date of purchase and installation, it was within the last 12 months. I at first assumed that it must have been improperly installed by the contractor, because it seemed implausible such a dangerous product would be on the market, but when I began doing research I saw scores of reviews and warnings from people who reported the exact same thing, happening anywhere from months to 10 years after installation, with no warning. I was particularly alarmed because despite the sizeable number of one-star reviews, often, it seems, this doesn't happen, or hasn't happened yet, the reviews are mostly positive and the product is highly rated on most websites. I am concerned particularly about anyone with small children or pets either purchasing this or having it already installed in their home and not knowing the danger.
Mirror came unglued from the two sided tape on the manufacturers mounting base and fell on the floor smashing another mirror and breaking of a sharp chip.
I own a magnifying mirror that caused a basket to catch fire in my home. lucky for us we awoke in time to get the basket out of our home with no physical damage, only the smell of smoke The Magnifying mirror reflected the sun off the mirror and caused a basket to catch fire minutes after sunrise..
I was notified of a mirror recall. To see if my mirror was included, I was instructed to get the number off the back of the mirror. When I was adjusting the mirror to get the number, the adhesive popped off the hanger of the mirror and the mirror fell forward, breaking glass globe of my vanity light.
Showing 8 of 35 reports.
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to mirrors or mirror glass on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are mirrors or mirror glass?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, mirrors or mirror glass have a danger score of 38/100 (low risk). An estimated 25,017 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from mirrors or mirror glass?
The most common injury is laceration to the hand, accounting for approximately 101,873 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from mirrors or mirror glass increasing or decreasing?
Down 12% over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for mirrors or mirror glass injuries?
The 15-24 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 151,244 cases recorded over 20 years. Males are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by mirrors or mirror glass?
Of all ER visits involving mirrors or mirror glass, approximately 2.7% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (97.3%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with mirrors or mirror glass?
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 38/100 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 15-24 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.
