As the holiday season gets closer, parents from all over are making their shopping lists and checking them twice, in efforts to make this year a memorable one for their youngsters. And while the kids may know which toys are the most popular, they do not think about which ones can potentially be dangerous. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, over 200,000 toy-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospitals in 2010; most of them under the age of 15. Our eye care professionals would like to remind parents about the dangerous affects toys can have on their children’s eyes and also offer five tips on safe toy shopping this year.
- Do not buy toys that include sharp and/or projectile parts.
- Make certain that someone is always supervising your young ones if they are playing with a toy that could cause an eye-related injury.
- Always provide protective eye wear with polycarbonate lenses if you plan on buying sports equipment as a gift. If you’d like more information about protective eye gear for your child’s favorite sport; just check with your local eye doctor.
- Always pay attention to age recommendations on toys and make sure that you choose gifts that are appropriate for that child’s age.
- Lastly, it might be a good idea to purchase toys that are marked with ASTM, which means that they meet safety standards by the American Society for Testing and Materials.
We’d like to stress the important of these 5 easy tips when deciding what to buy your children this holiday season and also maintaining their eye health while playing with their new gifts. The best way to prevent injuries related to toys is to simply be aware of what you’re putting in your child’s hands.
Happy Holidays from Slade & Baker!
