Safety First for a Happy Holiday!
Holiday Eye Safety Tips to Keep
the Holidays Happy
In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, our focus is often trying to find “the one gift” we think will bring a smile a child. Too often, eye safety isn’t on our minds but it needs to be! Here are some eye safety tips for the whole family from Safe Eyes America to keep your holidays happy…
Make sure that toys are age appropriate and think about potential accidents with sharp objects as well as spinning props or toys that are thrown.
Toys that shoot things (foam darts, arrows, paintballs, air rifle pellets, or BBs) all require constant adult supervision. The eyes are delicate and precious and projectile injuries can and do cause blinding injuries far too often. Children (and adults!) often get carried away during play and warnings not to shoot at anybody are quickly forgotten. Kids come up with all kinds of plans (often posted on tik-tok!) to up the fun while taking out the safety. Toy guns of all types can be far more powerful and dangerous than you think! Issue absolute rules, use safety glasses even when they seem like over-kill, recognize that the supervision has to be 100% of the time, and be prepared for strict enforcement of the rules to keep everyone safe.
Make sure that children (and adults!) open packages carefully! Knives and scissors used to open boxes and plastic should always be used pointed away and never up to avoid accidents to the face and eyes.
As we celebrate with festive food and drink don’t forget that champagne, sparkling wines and cider must be opened with care. Always open bottles pointed away from everyone and use a towel to prevent the cork from flying. Corks flying across the room may seem like fun, but they can be propelled with great force, fly at 50 MPH, and cause potentially blinding eye injuries.
Leave the New Year’s fireworks up to the professionals and forget about the sparklers. Thousands of serious eye injuries occur every year from fireworks.
If someone in your family does have an eye injury seek appropriate care immediately by an ophthalmologist (eye physician and surgeon) to make sure that they get the treatment that they need!
Have a safe and Happy Holiday Season!
