Safe Toys & Eye Protection: Tips for Choosing Safe Holiday Toys and Avoiding Eye Injuries
From 2011 to 2015, over a quarter of a million children were treated in an emergency department for toy-related injuries. About 1 in 10 childhood eye injuries seen in emergency rooms are caused by toys. Consider how that toy might affect their eye health when purchasing a holiday gift for a child. Discover what potential hazards some toys pose and how to choose safe holiday toys to prevent harm to your loved ones’ vision and eye health.
A Few Examples of Hazardous Toys
Some toys are more dangerous than others. The following are four examples of toys that may require more consideration before you purchase them for children.
Projectile Launchers: Many children love to play games with projectile launch toys. These can include:
- Dart blasters
- Air guns
- Paintball guns
- Crossbows
- Slingshots
Unfortunately, launching an object at another child can cause them to get hit in the eye. This can cause a corneal abrasion or bleeding in the eye. Heavy objects can cause severe injuries, like bone fractures in the eye socket. Some of these injuries can lead to blindness or permanently affect a child’s vision.
Sharp or Pointed Toys: Pointed objects like swords, lightsabers, and toy bayonets can poke children in the eye and cause serious damage. Playing with these toys can also lead to cuts, bleeding, and retinal tears. Children may experience blurred or reduced vision, headaches, eye pressure, and other painful symptoms.
Easily Broken Objects: Some toys have glass or metal parts that can easily break or tear off. Although the toy may have been safe when intact, it may be dangerous once it breaks. Shards and sharp edges can cause harrowing lacerations or permanent vision loss.
High-Powered Lasers: The FDA regulates handheld and toy laser products, but not all manufacturers adhere to the agency’s design or labeling guidance. If you aren’t careful, you could end up handing a child a laser that’s too powerful for them to handle.
Lasers shone in the eye or reflected off shiny surfaces can cause corneal burns, retinal hemorrhages, macular holes, and other injuries. The short—and long-term effects can range from loss of visual acuity to severe pain and permanent blindness. Worse still, these negative impacts may not be apparent until later.
How to Choose Safe Holiday Toys for the Children You Love
To avoid eye injuries during the holidays, choose safer toys. Review the following tips to ensure that children have the most fun with the least amount of danger.
Check Age Recommendations: One tip for avoiding eye injuries is to look for the age range on the label before buying a toy. Many toys have recommended age ranges. For example, a toy might be labeled for children ages five and up.
Manufacturers display these age ranges because what is a safety hazard at an earlier developmental stage may not present the same danger to an older child.
Read All Warnings and Instructions: It’s essential to read any manufacturer warnings. You should also note any instructions for the appropriate use of the toy. This will tell you what you need to know about avoiding potential eye injuries and help you decide whether the toy is hazardous for the child you’re buying it for.
Inspect Toy Quality and Materials: Make sure that the construction of the toy you’re buying is sturdy and that it doesn’t have breakable glass parts. Avoid toys that might shatter and create shards or sharp edges.
After the Purchase: Tips for Maintaining Safety With Children’s Toys
The following recommendations can help with avoiding eye injuries during the holiday season and beyond.
Supervising Children During Play
Children need supervision, even when they’re playing with safe holiday toys. Before allowing a child to play with a toy, explain how to use the toy safely and avoid eye injuries. For example, you may need to tell a child not to aim a projectile toy directly at someone’s face.
Observe children closely to make sure they’re using toys appropriately. Intervene if they are pointing or throwing objects at each other’s faces or are in danger of running or falling into a pointed object. Finally, if a toy breaks, it’s best to throw it away, as avoiding eye injuries is more important than any attachment a child might have to that toy.
Storing Toys Safely
Try to store all toys in a box with a secure lid. If a toy has a sharp or pointed edge, store it in a separate place away from the other toys to reduce the risk of a child accidentally poking themselves in the eye with it. Additionally, remove all projectiles from a toy before storing it to avoid eye injuries caused by accidental launches.
Just a Little Bit of Caution Sets the Stage for Injury-Free Fun
The holidays are about honoring traditions and enjoying the company of loved ones. If you want this time to be as enjoyable as possible for children, it’s important to choose safe holiday toys to help with avoiding eye injuries.
Are you trying to find ways to maintain your family’s eye health this holiday season? Looking Glass Optical can help. Contact us today to learn more about our pediatric eye care services, including detecting and correcting vision problems early to set your child up for a lifetime of healthy vision.
Share
Leave a Reply