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The right toy given
at holiday time means smiles and hours of enjoyment for a child.
The wrong toy, though, could result in a preventable eye injury.
"Prevent Blindness Virginia
recommends that parents protect their child's eyes by not buying
any toy weapons and choosing toys suited only for their child's
age", says Timothy Gresham, President and CEO.
Kids can be very persuasive
in influencing their parents, perhaps because a friend has a cool
toy or they hear about the latest toy craze.
"It is important that
parents follow simple precautions, use sound judgement and avoid
making impulsive toy-buying decisions," added Gresham.
According to statistics
provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, over 10,000
children under the age of 14 were treated in U.S. hospital emergency
rooms for eye injuires caused by toys and sporting equipment in
2001. 90% of these injuries were preventable. The actual number
of injuries may be much higher as the statistic does not include
injuries treated at outpatient clinics or private doctors' offices.
While many eye injuries were sight threatening, the total number
of general toy-related injuries is staggering--an estimated 247,000
toy-related injuries in 2001.
Every year billions
of toys are sold in the United States and a large majority of these
are sold in December. With the holiday season upon us, Prevent Blindness
Virginia has the following tips on how to make this a safe holiday
season:
- Inspect toys for safe construction. Products given to young
children should be made of durable plastic or wood with no sharp
edges or points. The toys should be able to withstand impact.
Avoid purchasing toys with small parts for young children. Young
children tend to put items in their mouths, increasing their
risk of choking.
- Check your children's toys regularly for broken parts. Throw
broken toys out immediately if they cannot be safely repaired.
Older kids often alter their toys and misuse them, making them
unsafe. It is better to be vigilant, even with older kids, so
that serious eye injuries can be prevented.
- Read the instructions and suggested age level on the packaging.
Assess whether the item is appropriate for the child's ability
and age. Age labelling is provided not just for development
reasons, but for safety reasons as well.
- Avoid toys that shoot projectiles such as toy guns--they contribute
to a large number of serious eye injuries and can rob children
of their sight. Last year, there were close to 2,000 eye injuries
in children under the age of 14 caused by toy weapons, BB guns,
slingshots and other propelled toys.
- Look for the symbol ASTM F963. This indicates the product
meets the national safety standards set by the American Society
for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
- Make recommendations to family members and friends about gifts
that you feel are appropriate for your child.
Remain aware of recalled
products. Large toy retailers post regular notices of recalled toys
usually at the front of the store. Take recalled products back to
the store where they were purchased for a full refund. For further
information on toy and product recalls, visit the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission website at www.cpsc.gov.
For additional information
on eye health and safety, contact Prevent Blindness Virginia, toll
free at 888/790-2020.
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Prevent
Blindness Virginia is the state's only nonprofit health organization
with the sole mission of preserving sight through vision screenings,
public and professional education, and eye safety activities. Its
primary emphasis is the early detection of childhood eye conditions
that interfere with early education and can lead to a lifetime of
blindness.
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