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Don't Shoot Your Eye Out!
A guide to safe toy gift giving this season.
Most of us have seen the classic movie A Christmas Story. For those of you who haven’t, I’m sure it will be playing soon for it’s annual 24 hour marathon, but here’s a quick recap of the main plot line. All Ralphie wanted for Christmas was a Red Ryder BB gun. He excitedly told anyone who would listen; and yet every person he told repeated the same line: “You’ll shoot your eye out!” In the end, he did just that. Well, he broke his glasses because the BB came back and hit him in the face. The movie is heartwarming and solid Christmas classic, but there’s also a great lesson there.
In the US alone, 251,800 toy-related injuries were reported.
While we might think we are responsible enough to handle toys that shoot, the truth of the matter is that accidents can happen. In the US alone, 251,800 toy-related injuries were reported. Of those, 44% were to the face and head area.
BB guns, airsoft guns and Nerf guns can be dangerous if proper safety is overlooked. All it takes is one misaimed shot and you have landed yourself in your eye doctor’s office. Proper eye coverage with safety goggles and supervision of little ones while at play, can greatly reduce your chances of dashing through the snow, one-eyed, to an after-hours appointment.
Some of these toys come with laser pointers for guided shots. It is extremely important to avoid shining a laser in your eye, or someone else’s eye. The higher the power on the laser, the more damage it can do. Be sure to check the milliwatts of power output. Less than 5, while still inadvisable, should clear up with a few blinks. Any more than that you and are looking at severe and possible permanent damage to your retina.
Digital devices are always a hot gift item. Too much time on screens, however, can lead to eye fatigue, eye strain, trouble focusing and dry eye disease. Always take breaks from screens and follow the 20-20-20 rule: for every 20 minutes spent looking at a screen, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This can alleviate some of the symptoms and keep your eyes healthy and focused. Also, if you are giving a digital gift, consider adding a pair of blue light filtering glasses. These will alleviate eye strain by cutting the amount of blue light you or your loved one is exposed to.
Finally, the most important rule this holiday season: simply have fun and enjoy time with family and friends! We hope these few tips will help make your holiday safe and healthy. And remember…don’t shoot your eye out!!
