Cox Media Group’s Washington News Bureau analyzed government data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission showing product-related injuries that resulted in emergency room visits. For Valentine’s Day, we searched key words focused around celebrating the notorious day of love, and found chocolate, flowers and candles resulted in more than 300 injuries in 2018 (the most recent available data).
Candles were, by far, the most likely of the gifts to cause injury. Most injuries were caused by hot wax spilling onto extremities like hands and feet.
The most common injury for chocolate eaters occurred when they tried to break apart chocolate bars with a knife. Some lost fingers this way. But a 28-year-old female ended up spilling melted chocolate on her foot, causing second and third degree burns to her toes.
Cutting flowers, and flower-filled vases slipping out of people’s hands also caused dozens of ER visits.
We also looked at injuries specifically on Valentine’s Day, and the day after. Some poor lovers cut their hands on wine bottles. And several couples found themselves in the ER after slipping near the bath tub.
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