Happy Safe Toys and Celebration Month!

Posted by: Eye Health Northwest in Children on December 11, 2020

Kid hugging male family member at Christmas time

Do you find it difficult to pick out and purchase holiday gifts for children?  Are you aware that most toys have age guidelines printed on them? 

December is Safe Toys and Celebration Month. The AAO dedicates this month to educating the public about the importance of buying safe toys during the holiday season. 

The team at EyeHealth Northwest is working to educate our patients and the community about the importance of safe toy buying. This is especially true during the holiday season. 

Unfortunately, toys cause thousands of eye injuries each year. Children that are 14 and under are the age group that experiences the most eye injuries due to toys. 

Parents must be diligent when they are purchasing gifts for their children or allowing others to buy gifts for them. They must also always monitor their children while they play with their toys. About 10% of children’s eye injuries that result in an ER visit are from toys. 

If you are buying a present for a child, you should follow these tips to make sure you are buying a safe gift. There are a lot of tips that you should follow when purchasing presents for children. Keep reading for our top five tips to follow this holiday season!

  1. If you are purchasing toys as gifts, check to see what age they are appropriate for. For example, if you are getting a gift for a 2-year-old, then you should not buy a gift that says for children 5 years old and up. Even if you think the child can use a toy, it does not mean you should give it to them. You should wait until it is age-appropriate. 
  2. When your child receives a new toy, you should show them how to use it properly and safely. This helps them understand how to use it correctly before they can hurt themselves.
  3. Monitor your child while they play. No matter how old your child is, you should watch them while they play with toys. Parents need to watch their children and make sure they are safe. If you are worried about a toy, do not let your children have it. 
  4. Avoid purchasing toys with projectiles for children. You should not allow your kids to use toys like BB guns and crossbows. These can result in serious injuries, especially to the eyes and face.
  5. Skip buying gifts that are pointy. Toys you should avoid include swords, pens and pencils, or any other sharp objects. When small children have them, they can be dangerous. 

Follow these tips this holiday season to make sure that everyone stays safe. If a toy breaks, you can repair it or throw it out. 

You should put away toys once your children are done playing with them to prevent any injuries from tripping or falling over them. Also, not buying any toys with sharp edges and evaluating all toys your child receives to make sure they are sturdy and safe are a good rule of thumb. 

Kids can get different types of eye injuries from toys. Some of the most common ones are damage to the eye, cataracts, corneal abrasions, ocular hyphema, and increased inner eye pressure. 

If your child has an eye injury, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR now to see one of our ophthalmologists. It’s never too soon to make eye health a priority!


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Our Locations

Aloha
18345 SW Alexander St,
Suite A
Aloha, OR 97003
(503) 642-2505 see more
Glisan
6701 NE Glisan Street
Portland, OR 97213
(503) 255-2291 see more
Gresham
24601 SE Stark St.
Suite 245
Troutdale, OR 97060
(503) 255-2291 see more
Hillsboro
6111 NE Cornell Rd
Hillsboro, OR 97124
(503) 846-9400 see more
Lake Oswego
9 Monroe Parkway, Suite 160
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
(503) 636-2551 see more
Milwaukie
11086 SE Oak St
Milwaukie, OR 97222
(503) 656-4221 see more
Mt. Tabor
5935 SE Division St.
Portland, OR 97206
503 777-5546 see more
Newberg
2318 Portland Rd, Suite 300
Newberg, OR 97132
(503) 538-1341 see more
North Portland
3246 N. Lombard St.
Portland, OR 97217
(503) 285-1671 see more
Northwest Portland
1955 NW Northrup St
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 227-2020 see more
Oregon City
1306 Division St
Oregon City, OR 97045
(503) 656-4221 see more
Peterkort
9555 SW Barnes Rd.
#100 (1rst floor)
Portland, OR 97225
(503) 227-2020 see more
Providence Portland
5050 NE Hoyt St., Suite 445
Portland, OR 97213
(503) 231-0166 see more
Providence St. Vincent
9135 SW Barnes Rd., Suite 961
Portland, OR 97225
(503) 292-0848 see more
Southeast Portland
10819 SE Stark St,
Portland, OR 97216
(503) 255-2291 see more
Sunnyside
12050 SE Stevens Rd, Suite 100
Happy Valley, OR 97086
(503) 783-3300 see more
Tigard
15298 SW Royalty Parkway
Tigard OR 97224
(503) 227-2020 see more
Wilsonville
29250 SW Town Center Loop W
Wilsonville, OR 97070
(503) 582-0000 see more
Westside Surgery Center
13240 SW Pacific Hwy
Portland, OR 97223
(503) 639-6571 see more
EyeHealth Eastside Surgery and Laser Center
12050 SE Stevens Rd.
Happy Valley, OR 97086
(971) 206-6100 see more

Our Locations

Aloha
18345 SW Alexander St,
Suite A
Aloha, OR 97003
(503) 642-2505 see more
Glisan
6701 NE Glisan Street
Portland, OR 97213
(503) 255-2291 see more
Gresham
24601 SE Stark St.
Suite 245
Troutdale, OR 97060
(503) 255-2291 see more
Hillsboro
6111 NE Cornell Rd
Hillsboro, OR 97124
(503) 846-9400 see more
Lake Oswego
9 Monroe Parkway, Suite 160
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
(503) 636-2551 see more
Milwaukie
11086 SE Oak St
Milwaukie, OR 97222
(503) 656-4221 see more
Mt. Tabor
5935 SE Division St.
Portland, OR 97206
503 777-5546 see more
Newberg
2318 Portland Rd, Suite 300
Newberg, OR 97132
(503) 538-1341 see more
North Portland
3246 N. Lombard St.
Portland, OR 97217
(503) 285-1671 see more
Northwest Portland
1955 NW Northrup St
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 227-2020 see more
Oregon City
1306 Division St
Oregon City, OR 97045
(503) 656-4221 see more
Peterkort
9555 SW Barnes Rd.
#100 (1rst floor)
Portland, OR 97225
(503) 227-2020 see more
Providence Portland
5050 NE Hoyt St., Suite 445
Portland, OR 97213
(503) 231-0166 see more
Providence St. Vincent
9135 SW Barnes Rd., Suite 961
Portland, OR 97225
(503) 292-0848 see more
Southeast Portland
10819 SE Stark St,
Portland, OR 97216
(503) 255-2291 see more
Sunnyside
12050 SE Stevens Rd, Suite 100
Happy Valley, OR 97086
(503) 783-3300 see more
Tigard
15298 SW Royalty Parkway
Tigard OR 97224
(503) 227-2020 see more
Wilsonville
29250 SW Town Center Loop W
Wilsonville, OR 97070
(503) 582-0000 see more
Surgery Centers

Westside Surgery Center

13240 SW Pacific Hwy
Portland, OR 97223
(503) 639-6571 see more

EyeHealth Eastside Surgery and Laser Center

12050 SE Stevens Rd.
Happy Valley, OR 97086
(971) 206-6100 see more