SAN FRANCISCO—During the holiday season, it’s especially hard to resist indulging a child’s overwhelming desire for his or her most wished for gift. But sometimes you have to for their safety. As part of Safe Toys and Celebrations month in December, the American Academy of Ophthalmology—the Eye M.D. Association—urges Americans to purchase safe toys and gifts this year.
“When shopping for toys, check labels to make sure they are age-appropriate, avoid games with sharp or protruding parts or projectiles, and consider carefully before giving darts, pellet guns, or other firearms,” says Monica L. Monica, MD, an ophthalmologist in New Orleans.
Anne Sumers, MD, an ophthalmologist from New Jersey says, “Eye M.D.s see first hand the devastating damage toys can inflict on children’s eyes. By getting the word out, we hope to save children from needless suffering.”
When choosing safe toys:
- Check packaging for age recommendations. Give only age-appropriate toys. Keep in mind the child's interests and skill level, avoiding toys that are too complex for very young children.
- If you're giving sporting equipment, include appropriate protective eyewear. Approximately 40,000 sports-related eye injuries occur every year. Ninety percent of these injuries could have been avoided with appropriate protective eyewear.
- Broken toys may sometimes expose dangerous prongs and needle-sharp points. Pins and staples on dolls' clothes, hair and accessories can easily puncture an unsuspecting child. Even stuffed animals or dolls may have barbed eyes or wired limbs that can cut or stab.
- Look for quality in design and construction in all toys. Toys of brittle plastic or glass can be broken easily, exposing dangerous sharp, cutting edges. Wooden, metal and plastic toys sometimes have sharp edges, due to poor construction.
By following these few simple safety tips, you can help make sure your holidays are festive and injury free.
