December is Safe Toys & Celebrations Month
Read Our Safe Toy Checklist
As the holidays approach it’s important to remember that some toys can be dangerous, and may result in eye injuries. Each year, thousands of children age 14 and younger suffer serious eye injuries, even blindness, from toys. Roughly 1 in 10 children's eye injuries that end up in the ER are caused by toys. A measure of prevention, and supervision can go a long way in protecting the eyes of our little ones this holiday season, and throughout the year.
There are three important ways you can protect your child’s eyes from injuries while playing with toys:
Only buy toys meant for their age.
Show them how to use their toys safely.
Keep an eye on them when they play.
Ways to protect the eyes of your little ones during the holidays:
Read all warnings and instructions on the box.
Avoid purchasing toys with sharp or rigid points, spikes, rods, or dangerous edges.
Select age appropriate gifts by reading labels before you buy.
Buy toys that will withstand impact and not break into dangerous shards.
Avoid toys that shoot objects. BB guns, slingshots, dart guns, arrows.
Avoid drones with spinning rotors.
Avoid toys with lasers. High powered laser pointers can cause permanent vision loss.
Avoid toy swords, or wands.
If your child is given one of these types of toys, provide close supervision while in use.
It's not just about the kids...
The holidays naturally call for social gatherings and celebrations. For adults, make sure to remember eye safety when popping open the champagne bottle.
When it’s time to open the bottle of champagne, hold the cork down when you’re removing the wire wrapped around the cork.
A great way to prevent the champagne from spraying or cork flying is to use a towel and point it away from yourself and others.
Champagne has tons of bubbles filled with gas that expand when warm. With each degree in temperature, pressure builds that can make a cork fly out unexpectedly. To preserve your eyesight (and the taste of your bubbly), always chill your Champagne in the fridge or on ice to about 45 degrees.
Once you’re finally ready, hold the bottle at about a 45-degree angle and gently pull the cork out.