Nonelectric Razors Or Shavers
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.
Personal Care & Safety Products · CPSC Code 1661
Down 23% over 5 years
The verdict
Nonelectric Razors Or Shavers carry a danger score of 38/100 (low risk), driven by roughly 30,681 ER-treated injuries a year that are declining by about 23% over the last five years.
- 38/100
- danger score (low risk)
- 30,681
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 2.6%
- end in hospital admission
- 25-34
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 1661 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 38/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for nonelectric razors or shavers - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume30,681 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)2.6%
- Fatality rate0.00%
- 5-year trend-23%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Nonelectric Razors Or Shavers (CPSC product code 1661, in the Personal Care & Safety Products category) generate an estimated 30,681 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 613,628 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 23% over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2013 (37,081 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2005 (19,065 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for nonelectric razors or shavers is laceration to the finger, accounting for approximately 237,957 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by laceration to the hand (55,399 cases). The 25-34 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 123,080 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 2.6% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 39 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how nonelectric razors or shavers 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 | 19,809 | 16,800 | |
| 5-14 | 21,848 | 21,013 | |
| 15-24 | 67,726 | 52,235 | |
| 25-34 | 79,859 | 43,165 | |
| 35-44 | 66,455 | 31,400 | |
| 45-54 | 47,891 | 27,815 | |
| 55-64 | 35,346 | 22,267 | |
| 65-74 | 21,606 | 15,080 | |
| 75+ | 14,585 | 8,583 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Finger | Laceration | |
| Hand | Laceration | |
| Lower Leg | Laceration | |
| Lower Arm | Laceration | |
| Pubic Region | Other | |
| Face | Laceration | |
| Foot | Laceration | |
| Finger | Avulsion | |
| Wrist | Laceration | |
| Lower Trunk | Other | |
| Face | Other | |
| Upper Leg | Laceration | |
| Upper Trunk | Other | |
| Lower Leg | Other | |
| Mouth | Laceration |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
16YOF PRESENTS WITH LEFT RING FINGER LACERATION SUSTAINED FROM A MICROBLADE WHICH IS USED FOR COSMETIC TRIMMING. DX:LACERATION OF FINGER
30 YOM WAS USING A RAZOR BLADE WHILE WORKING ON A REMOTE CONTROL AIRPLANE, ACCIDENTALLY CUT HIS L HAND. LACERATION NOTED TO L OUTER HAND AREA. LACERATION REPAIR PERFORMED. DX: LACERATION L HAND.
27YOM PRESENTS TO THE ED WITH A SELF INFLICTED CUT TO THE LEG. CONFLICTING STORIES; STATES HE HAD A KNOT IN HIS LEG AND WANTED TO CUT IT OUT, FELT GOOD, WAS ON FENTANYL PILL AND COULDN'T FEEL PAIN. OTHER STORY HE WAS SHAVING HIS GENITALS AND ACCIDENTALLY CUT HIMSELF. UDS: +CANNABINOIDS, +FENTANYL DX: POLYSUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, STIMULANT DISORDER,
24 YOF SHAVED HER ARMPIT YESTERDAY AND HAS SKIN LESION TO RIGHT AXILLA. DX: SEBACEOUS CYST RIGHT AXILLA.
16 YOM CUTTING A DRYWALL WALL WITH A RAZOR AT SCHOOL AND CUT FINGER. DX LACERATION
25YOF PRESENTS TO THE ED COMPLAINS OF VAGINAL PAIN. REPORTS A KNOT IN HER LEFT LABIA FOR 2 DAYS. REPORTS SHE HAS BEEN SHAVING AND THAT SHE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE CHANGED OUT HER RAZOR. DX: LEFT GENITAL LABIAL ABSCESS
40 YOM SHAVING AND CUT NECK 3 DAYS AGO. NOW LOOKS INFECTED. DX CELLULITIS
62YOM, SUICIDAL IDEATION W/ PLAN TO SLIT WRIST, HALLUCINATIONS NH PT TRYING TO GET RAZOR BLADE OUT TO END HIS LIFE, CUT HIS RIGHT THUMB ACCIDEENTALLY DX: SUICIDAL IDEATION HALLUCINATIONS UTI, POA
52YOM WAS SCRAPPING HIS CALLUS USING A STRAIGHT RAZOR AND CUT FOOT DEEPLY, DX LAC TO FOOT
17 MOM CUT FINGER ON EYEBROW RAZOR DX LACERATION FINGER
36YOM PRESENTS WITH LACERATION TO LEFT INDEX FINGER AND THUMB AFTER USING A RAZOR BLADE TO CUT *** WHEN THE BLADE SLIPPED DX: LACERATION OF INDEX FINGER, THUMB LACERATION
64 YOF WAS SHAVING HER FACE WITH A RAZOR WHEN SHE ACCIDENTALLY CUT HER CHEEK, DX; FACIAL LACERATION
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
I am a female, age 48. I contacted BIC on September 2nd evening (See message in quotes below). I wanted to share an experience with you which has bothered me a lot due to the quality of the the BIC Soleil razor brand that I used. This was a brand new razor, I was shaving in the shower as I normally do. During normal usage, the razor top broke, exposing a blade that bent and caused a severe laceration on my lower calf. The resulting gash required 23 stitches, which resulted in an injury detailed below. I am also attaching photos for your team to look at. Msg that was sent to BIC on Sept 2, 2017 via Contact Us page and via email shopbic@bicworld.com: "On Sept 2, 2017 while shaving my legs with a BIC Soleil razor, at a normal pace during my shower, with no force whatsoever, the plastic portion above the blade broke off, the blade popped out bent and ran through my skin as I moved the razor along my leg. A large chunk of flesh came out and there is a 25 cm long gash, lower portion where the flesh came out in a huge chunk. My leg was bleeding badly. I did not realize it until I saw the water turn red. I quickly stemmed the flow with a towel and tied it with a tourniquet, and rushed to the Emergency Room where they gave me local anesthesia, the wound required 23 stitches. I would like to bring this to the attention of the company. I have saved the razor and have photos of my wounds which I would like to send you. I don't have the packaging of the product or UPC code, since this was the last razor in my Soleil pack and I had already thrown out the packaging. My Contact no is XXX-XXX-XXXX. This is not something small, a lifelong scar of 10 inches will remain and I would like to make you aware of this problem. I have to take time off from work on Tuesday to see my PCP for a dressing change (due to long weekend in the US, Labor Day holiday) and will know how the wound is healing. The ER physicians at Newton Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA also suggested that I contac
My husband basically scalped himself with one of the new 6-blade razor cartridges we received from Dollar Shave Club a brand new shipment that just arrived last week. Not sure what has happened to their quality control but this is beyond unacceptable, its dangerous! He didnt just nick himself, and it wasnt just in one place, it was in 6 places. The bottom blade has too much of a gap, and it protrudes out too far. It grabbed the skin on his scalp and peeled it off in a sheet! In three places! Along with nicking him on three other places! He has been using their razors since 2013 and we've never had a problem until now, but this last shipment all has these dangerous design flaws. My husband has been shaving his head in the shower with a razor like this for more than 25 years. He knows how to safely shave his head. At most he might slightly nick himself once every 2-3 months. He has never, ever, once in his life had a razor mutilate his head like this. The blood was gushing out. We had to put a big gauze pad and wrap his head with an [REDACTED] bandage to get it to stop bleeding! You need to make this right ASAP! If all of your 6 blade razor cartridges are of this design, they should be pulled immediately!
Purchased SMARTEDGE 100 Pack Single Edge Dispenser by Personna Pro American Safety Razor Company. Opened package by cutting thin plastic packaging. Pulled back plastic packaging and 100 razor blades were dispensed from the spring loaded dispenser. Razor blades fell to the counter and floor, hitting my legs as they fell. (Note: Wearing shorts, did not realize leg was bleeding approximately 2 inches above my ankle until my wife ask about the blood.) Spring action caused the blades to travel in every direction.
I have been using the Bic Soleil razors for 2 years. I usually only get minor cuts from these razors. But today I got a 4 inch cut on my lower thigh and a deep gash in the back of my ankle that bled onto the shower floor. I needed 6 bandages in total. This was a brand new razor. I used warm water and good quality shaving cream. I did not apply much force and I followed package directions. I am not a hemophiliac, nor am I on blood thinners.
I was shaving my legs as I always do and my knees was sliced. A dime size piece of skin cake off.
My 18 year old daughter used the Bleame crystal hair eraser according to the directions, including doing a patch test. The product, used as directed, removed so much skin in her bikini area that it caused a friction burn and she ended up in so much pain that it required an ER visit. She needed morphine, opiods, and topical numbing cream to help get the pain under control. She also required a tetanus shot. She was not able to work for 3 days.
When shaving, could see the lines/area where the blade was not shaving. Was sharper on certain areas and nicked a lot with each of the 4 razors. Writing this after bigger cut near ankle using the razor slowly & cautiously still cut leg. Have one left of the razors, have the box still, and or receipt.
I was shaving my legs when the razor skinned a 2 inch long piece of skin off my ankle. I shave very carefully and this had never happened before. I should have gotten stitches it wouldn't stop bleeding for hours. This happened on the other ankle a week later. Not surprised there's a product recall.
Showing 8 of 39 reports.
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to nonelectric razors or shavers on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are nonelectric razors or shavers?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, nonelectric razors or shavers have a danger score of 38/100 (low risk). An estimated 30,681 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from nonelectric razors or shavers?
The most common injury is laceration to the finger, accounting for approximately 237,957 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from nonelectric razors or shavers increasing or decreasing?
Down 23% over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for nonelectric razors or shavers injuries?
The 25-34 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 123,080 cases recorded over 20 years. Males are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by nonelectric razors or shavers?
Of all ER visits involving nonelectric razors or shavers, approximately 2.6% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (97.4%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with nonelectric razors or shavers?
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 Personal Care & Safety Products
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 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.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, scored, and verified.