Could an Eye Injury Ruin Your Family’s Holiday Fun?
December is Safe Toys and Celebrations Month: Here are a few tips to help you and your family avoid eye injuries during the holidays.
The holidays have finally arrived! It’s that time again for family gatherings, decorations, feasts, gifts—and potential eye injuries.
Not to be a downer, but all manner of injuries can and do occur at this most festive time of the year. And although the Christmas season has a lower incidence rate than other annual holidays, potential hazards still abound—especially to vision—amidst all of the fun.
“One of the sadder things we encounter as eye physicians are ocular injuries during the holidays,” says Dr. Anna Armstrong, a Therapeutic Certified Optometrist with Hattiesburg Eye Clinic. “It’s even more troubling because the majority of these holiday-related injuries could be prevented by taking a few extra precautions.”
Dr. Armstrong offers 3 important safety tips to ensure your family’s vision stays safe during this holiday season.
Buy age-appropriate gifts. Few things bring more pleasure to parents than watching their little one’s face light up after receiving a new toy for Christmas. But not all toys are safe, especially for the youngest kids.
“To me, the most important thing when buying gifts for children is to do your best to buy age-appropriate toys,” says Dr. Armstrong. “It’s important to read the labeling on toy packaging to ensure the child receiving it meets the manufacturer’s age recommendations.”
Inspect toys for possible hazards. Although most manufacturers follow strict safety guidelines, it’s up to you to determine if any toys you’re considering for purchase contain parts that might prove hazardous to your child.
“You should always inspect toys before allowing your child to play with them,” says Dr. Armstrong. “Avoid toys that have sharp edges, or that might produce jagged edges if broken, either of which could cause an eye injury.”
Dr. Armstrong also advises paying close attention to toys that launch projectiles, even soft ones. “Foam-based guns can cause injuries if aimed at the eyes. We have four boys who love playing with these kinds of toy guns, so we encourage them to play outdoors and avoid pointing them toward other people. Ideally, children playing with these types of toys should wear some protective eyewear.”
Handle fireworks carefully. Not long after Christmas, it’s time to celebrate the new year. For some, that means fireworks—which invites a whole other set of hazards that could prove harmful to the eyes.
“Overall, it’s best to leave fireworks in the hands of the professionals. But if you do handle them, be sure you’re lighting them in an open area with spectators at a safe distance. Direct them away from bystanders, and wear protective eyewear when setting them off,” says Dr. Armstrong.
For many families the holiday season is the best time of the year—a time to build lifetime memories. Be sure, though, that those times aren’t spoiled by an eye injury by exercising good safety practices and staying alert.
To learn more about Hattiesburg Eye Clinic’s comprehensive vision care, be sure to visit our website. To find out how Hattiesburg Eye Clinic can improve your vision health, call 601-268-5910 (or toll-free 800-624-8254) or schedule a consultation with us at www.hattiesburgeyeclinic.com/contact-us/
