The holiday season is upon us! As we gather with friends, family and loved ones, creating a safe environment for celebrating is key in scoring a very happy holiday.

Did you know that each holiday season, toys and sporting equipment are responsible for thousands of eye injuries to children every year? These eye injuries are preventable; parents can keep their children safe by demonstrating the proper use of toys, purchasing age-appropriate toys and supervising them while in use.

Safe Toy Checklist & Purchasing Tips:

• Read all warnings and instructions.
  
• Make certain children wear appropriate eye protection for sports (face shields, helmets).
• Avoid toys with sharp or rigid points, spikes, protruding or projectile-firing parts.
• Inspect toys for safe, sturdy construction. Children’s toys should be durable and able to withstand impact.
• Look for the letters “ASTM which means the toys meets the national safety standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
• Repair or replace damaged or defective toys.
• Stray away from purchasing flying toys. Bows, arrows, slingshots, and darts are extremely dangerous.
• BB guns are not toys and should not be given to children.
• Keep toys intended for older children away from younger children.

Do not give toys with small parts to young children. They tend to put them in their mouths, increasing the risk of choking.