‘Tis the season…
The turkey has been stuffed, the tree has been trimmed, and the holiday shopping season is in full swing. Now, as the holidays approach, we consider what we should get the children.
Parents and grandparents anxiously await to see the joy on children’s faces as they watch them open that perfect gift. Our options are vast and the holiday lists are long! But are these gifts all smart choices? Recall the scene from “A Christmas Story” when young Ralphie asks Santa for a rifle for Christmas. What was Santa’s response? “You’ll shoot your eye out kid!” as he pushes Ralphie back down the slide with his foot.
Nearly a quarter of a million toy related injuries occur each year, with half of these injuries affecting the face and head. The ER reports that 1 in 10 eye injuries to children are toy related. These injuries can be very serious in nature, leading to problems such as corneal abrasions, ulcers, traumatic cataracts, even complete permanent vision loss. While most people don’t consider this when purchasing gifts for loved ones, it is something that should be kept in mind while searching for the perfect gift this holiday season.
Here is a guide to making this gift giving season exciting, safe and injury-free.
• As Santa said to Ralphie, “You’ll shoot your eye out kid.” Avoid toys that have projectile parts (think Nerf). While Nerf is known for its soft foam toys, Nerf guns/blasters can propel parts at great speeds and force, with the potential of causing serious injury. If one of these toys is on your child’s list and you feel it MUST be under your tree this year, set rules and use safety goggles.
• If its sporting equipment your child wants, include the appropriate protective eyewear as part of the gift.
• Purchase age appropriate toys, and SUPERVISE younger children.
• Toys with wands, swords and the like. No explanation necessary here.
• Fishing poles (even plastic toy poles) can pose great danger. The objects dangling from its ends can easily swing into an unsuspecting child’s eye. Best to avoid these until your child is old enough to fish with mom or dad at the pond, with supervision and safety goggles!
• Aerosol string (such as Silly String). While this product looks and sounds innocent enough, the chemicals found in the string can cause eye irritation and corneal abrasions if not careful.
• Laser pointers can be extremely harmful. The intensity of the light that these pointers emit can cause permanent damage to the retina.
• Slingshots – again no explanation necessary.
• Toys that “Take off”, usually by being wound up also pose dangers. These spinning parts are hard to control and could easily hit an unsuspecting child in the eye.
• Drones are all the rage these days. These have spinning blades and fast moving parts. Failure to control these drones properly have caused injury.
For a complete list of the seasons 10 worst toys and safety tips to guide you, go to https://toysafety.org for more information.
Shopping tips:
• When buying for grandchildren or the children of friends and relatives, ask before purchasing.
• Buy age appropriate toys. Keep in mind that packaging guidelines are just that. Consider the child, not just the age of the child.
• Consider purchasing toys at a store rather than online. You will get a better feel for the toys properties and hazards when being viewed up close.
• Keep in mind that younger children can get into older siblings toys! Supervision is the key to safe play. Set rules and put away toys that are inappropriate for younger children in hard to reach places.
• Remember, better safe than sorry!
While many of these toys may appear on your child’s list, there are obvious hazards to be aware of. Choose wisely and consider the potential injuries that may occur. Tears of joy can quickly turn to tears of pain. Keep your holiday season merry and bright, filled with laughter and out of the emergency rooms. Protective eyewear, supervision and smart toy decisions are key to a happy holiday season.
Happy Holidays and All the Best this Season from everyone at Envision Eye Care!
