Eye safety for children focused on toy safety

The most common causes of eye injuries to children are:

• Misuse of toys
• Falls from beds, against furniture, on stairs, and when playing with toys
• Misuse of everyday tools and objects (work and garden tools, knives and forks, pens and pencils)
• Contact with harmful household products (detergents, paints, glues, etc.)
• Automobile accidents.

Indoor Safety

• Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.
• Provide lights and handrails to improve safety on stairs.
• Pad or cushion sharp corners and edges of furnishing and home fixtures.
• Install cabinet and drawer locks in kitchens and bathrooms.
• Store personal-use items (cosmetics, toiletry products), kitchen utensils, and desk supplies where they are out of reach for children.
• Keep paints, pesticides, fertilizers, and similar products properly stored in a secure area.

Toy Safety

• Read all warnings and instructions on toys.
• Avoid toys with sharp or rigid points, shafts, spikes, rods, and dangerous edges.
• Keep toys intended for older children away from younger children.
• Avoid flying toys and projectile-firing toys; these pose a danger to all children, particularly those under five years old.
• Be aware of items in playgrounds and play areas that pose potential eye hazards.
• Keep BB guns away from kids.

Safe Toy Checklist

Car Safety

• Use occupant restraints such as infant and child safety seats, booster seats, safety belts, and shoulder harnesses in cars.
• Children age 12 and younger should never ride in the front seat.
• Store loose items in the trunk, or secured on the floor. Any loose object can become dangerous in a crash.