1. Lawn Darts
Lawn darts were a staple at backyard parties in the ’70s, but these sharp, metal-tipped projectiles were more dangerous than they seemed. People would aim for a target on the ground, hoping to get the darts to land inside a ring. However, with no safety measures in place, it wasn’t uncommon for players to end up with impaled feet, or worse. The design of the darts made them especially prone to causing severe injuries, from puncture wounds to head trauma.
Eventually, these flying hazards were banned in the U.S. in the early ’80s due to the frequency of injuries. Despite their popularity, the risk of a potentially fatal accident led to their recall. While they were a fun activity at the time, the sharp tips and lack of control made them a perfect storm for ER visits.
2. The Human Cannonball
This one was definitely a stunt, but it gained popularity at neighborhood picnics in the ’70s. The idea was simple: someone would climb into a giant human-sized sling and be launched across the yard, hoping to land in a safe pile of hay or sand. While it might sound like a thrilling experience, the risk of injury was incredibly high.
There were countless stories of bruises, broken bones, and even dislocated joints from ill-prepared launches. The force of the human cannonball’s trajectory, combined with the lack of proper padding, often made it a painful ride. People got hurt even with the most careful setups, which ultimately led to the game’s decline in favor of safer activities.
3. Tag with a Twist
Tag was already a fun, if slightly competitive, game, but during the ’70s, kids liked to take it to the extreme with variations like “Contact Tag.” In this version, players had to physically wrestle each other to get someone tagged. It wasn’t unusual for a playdate to turn into a battle royale, with kids tackling each other into bushes or on hard ground.
The resulting injuries were often more severe than scrapes and bruises, ranging from sprained ankles to fractured bones. Kids might be thrown too hard onto the ground or accidentally knocked into sharp objects, leading to emergency room visits. The game’s rough nature made it a lot more dangerous than it appeared on the surface.
4. Jarts
Jarts were another iteration of lawn darts, but these were even more infamous for their large, heavy steel tips. A popular backyard game at the time, the objective was to throw the Jarts into a ring from a distance. As with lawn darts, the risk of injury was high, but the Jarts were designed to go further and faster, making them more difficult to control.
Despite their appeal, kids were regularly injured while playing, whether from direct hits or the darts landing dangerously close. In some cases, children were severely injured after being struck in the head or torso. Jarts were eventually banned for their safety risks, and their sharp-tipped design is a far cry from the softer alternatives available today.
5. High Dive Competitions
In the ’70s, kids often used backyard trampolines or even treehouses to compete in their own version of high diving. They’d climb to great heights and jump into a pool, hoping to land a perfect dive. Unfortunately, many jumped without proper training or safety precautions.
This lack of preparation led to broken bones, sprains, and even neck injuries as kids misjudged their landings. The game also invited dangerous stunts, like twisting in the air or diving headfirst into shallow water. As a result, some kids found themselves in the ER after a failed dive or an unexpected collision with the pool’s edge.
6. The Wheelbarrow Race
The wheelbarrow race was a classic party game that involved one person walking on their hands while their partner held their legs like a wheelbarrow. While it sounds like harmless fun, the game had the potential for serious injury, especially if the person walking on their hands didn’t have proper upper body strength.
Falls were the primary source of injury, with participants often landing on their heads or necks after losing balance. Even if a player managed to stay upright, they could still end up with muscle strain or joint injuries from the awkward positioning. What was meant to be a lighthearted race often led to accidents that were no laughing matter.
7. Spud
Spud was a popular game that involved tossing a rubber ball into the air and having players scramble to catch it. The twist was that when the ball was thrown, the players had to freeze in place while one person chased down anyone who moved.
With high-speed chases and sudden starts, players often tripped or collided with one another, causing injuries like sprained ankles or twisted knees. And because it was played on hard surfaces like pavement or dirt, there were also plenty of scraped knees and elbows. The unpredictability of the game, paired with its intense sprinting, made trips to the ER a common outcome.
8. Firecracker Toss
This dangerous outdoor game had kids lighting firecrackers and tossing them into the air in hopes of watching them explode at the peak of their flight. While it was intended to be exciting and full of adrenaline, it was also incredibly reckless. Without safety measures or adult supervision, fireworks ended up in unexpected places, like the face or hands.
The explosions caused severe burns, cuts, and eye injuries for several children who participated in these impromptu firework shows. The combination of fire, explosives, and youthful curiosity led to numerous ER visits. Fortunately, laws regulating fireworks have since made these types of games a thing of the past.
9. The Human Pyramid
In the ’70s, human pyramids were a common activity for groups of friends. The goal was to climb on top of one another to form a towering structure, all without toppling over. As fun as this seemed, the fall from even a few feet could cause injury, particularly if the pyramid collapsed unexpectedly.
Many kids broke arms, twisted ankles, or sprained wrists in their attempts to build the perfect pyramid. What made this even riskier was the competitive element; players often tried to outdo each other with taller pyramids, pushing their limits further. The structural instability made this one of the most dangerous pastimes of the decade.
10. The Egg Toss
This game involved two people standing apart and tossing an egg back and forth, taking a step further away each time. The goal was to catch the egg without it cracking, but given how slippery eggs are, it didn’t take much for them to slip from your hands and break.
While the eggs themselves were harmless, the scramble to catch them led to many slips and falls. People often lost their footing on the grass, running into each other or falling to the ground. The risk of injury wasn’t from the egg but from the chaotic movements of scrambling to catch it midair, resulting in sprains and fractures.
11. The Balloon Pop Race
The balloon pop race was all about speed: kids had to race to pop a balloon between their knees while running to the finish line. However, this wasn’t just a game of simple running—players were trying to avoid tripping while squeezing a balloon with their legs.
Inevitably, players would lose their balance and fall to the ground, injuring themselves in the process. There were many cases of twisted ankles, sprained wrists, or face plants onto the ground. The addition of the balloon only increased the chaos, leading to more accidents than anyone anticipated.
12. Stickball
Stickball was an urban game popular in the ’70s, with kids using a broomstick as a bat and a rubber ball as a substitute for a baseball. Often played in the street, players had to dodge cars while trying to hit the ball. While it provided a lot of fun, it also left kids exposed to traffic.
Frequent injuries included sprained wrists from mishits, ankle twists from dodging, or cuts from stray balls. The risk of being hit by a car while chasing a ball or running the bases was an ever-present danger. Though it was exciting, the game was one of the more reckless outdoor activities, often resulting in trips to the ER for players.