December is National Safe Toys and Gifts Month

This holiday season, we wish you…A safe gift-giving experience!

The holiday season is upon us which means holiday shopping and gift giving is in full swing. However, unknown to most, is the potential for harm and accidents that can occur as a result of an interaction with an unsafe or age-inappropriate toy or gift. In fact, the Department of Health and Human Services estimates that more than 217,000 children are treated in the ER annually due to toy-related injuries. Unfortunately, one of the most common injuries from toys is often eye injuries and, in many cases, blindness. That is why December is dedicated to National Safe Toys and Gifts Month. To get involved and do our part to protect our keiki, we are sharing our “Safe Toys Checklist” as well as other toy safety tips to ensure your holidays are spent with loved ones and not in the ER!

When planning your holiday shopping, make sure to consider these guidelines when buying gifts for others:

•   Always inspect toys to ensure safe and sturdy construction
•   Read the labels and warnings to avoid potentially dangerous products
•   Avoid buying toys that launch projectiles such as children's crossbows, BB guns, etc.
•   Make sure the toy is age as well as developmentally appropriate for the person you are buying it for
•   Avoid buying toys with sharp or rigid edges, spikes, or rods
•   Make sure your gift is accompanied by the proper eye protection, if needed (This may include sports toys, and science or art crafts)
•   Avoid toys that are fragile and may shatter into small pieces
•   Look for the label “ASTM” on toys. This means the product is certified by the American Society for Testing and Materials and meets national safety standards.

In addition to following these guidelines while gift shopping or toy-sharing, we recommend explaining how to use the toys when gifting or lending out. We also advise that, as fussy as little ones can be, keep toys meant for older children away from the younger ones. Most of all, we highly advise supervising children when playing, and especially during crafts projects. This is arguably the most crucial way to prevent toy-related accidents and injuries and ensure your child’s safety.

Let’s make this holiday season one to remember with memories of joyful festivities and quality time spent with our loved ones… Not trips to the hospital. With conscious gift shopping and the proper supervision, toy-related eye injuries are preventable and easy to avoid. As Dr. Steven Rhee of Hawaiian Eye Center states, “From the entire Hawaiian Eye ohana and myself, we wish everyone and their families a cheerful and safe holiday season. Mele Kalikimaka!”