For centuries, the natural materials from which neck lanyards were fashioned often would break of their own accord before posing a safety problem. Modern synthetics like nylon are a different matter.

A lot depends on your activity - rock climbers should be more cautious about hanging things around their neck than say, hikers walking on a prepared trail.

Neck strangulation doesn't reach epidemic proportions, but it is a potential problem that can be easily avoided. Who was the Hollywood celebrity who was strangled by her own neck scarf many years ago?