The holiday season is in full swing, and people across the nation are will be heading out to do their Christmas shopping. When it comes to gift-buying for the children on your list, eye safety should be a top concern.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports an estimated 254,200 toy-related injuries were treated at emergency rooms across the nation in 2015. The most common injuries were to the head or face, including eyes.
Safe Shopping
Prevent Blindness America, the oldest eye health and safety organization in the country, marks December as Safe Toys and Gifts Awareness Month in an effort to prevent such accidents. Most injuries are easily preventable. Here are some tips for safe toy and gift shopping:
- Recommend appropriate gifts for your child to family and friends.
- If you’re buying for someone else’s child, check with the parent before purchasing a gift.
- Always inspect toys and other gifts to determine whether they are right for your child’s age and development level.
- Avoid toys with small magnets or batteries for small children as these items can cause serious injury if ingested.
- If buying sports equipment, include proper eye safety gear, such as goggles or glasses.
- Keep toys intended for older children out of reach of younger siblings and friends.
- Keep warranties and directions for all gifts.
- Avoid toys that have shooting parts or parts that fly off, as these can cause eye and face injuries.
- Toys should be durable, without sharp or pointed edges, and able to withstand impact.
- Young children are prone to putting small objects in their mouths, so gifts with small parts should be avoided.
World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that compiles a top 10 list of the most unsafe toys every year. The 2017 list has several toys that can potentially cause eye injuries. These include:
- Wonder Woman Battle Action Sword
- Spider-Man Spider-drone
- Nerf Zombie Strike Deadbolt Crossbow
These are only a few of the toys currently on the market that can present the risk of eye injuries.
If your child suffers an eye injury from a toy or gift, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Call Berkeley Eye Center at 713-526-1600 or schedule an appointment online.