Give safe toys and gifts this holiday season

December 2022

During the holidays, toy safety is crucial in protecting children’s health. To help you remind patients to buy wisely, Prevent Blindness America has designated December as Safe Toys and Gifts Month. You can help educate your patients on safe gift-giving this season by following these steps for safe toy use:

• Immediately discard wrapping and packaging
• Show children how to use the toy safely
• Keep a close watch on children while they’re playing. This includes craft projects that involve scissors, glue or other potentially hazardous materials.
• Dispose of any toy that is broken or is missing parts
• Keep younger children from playing with toys intended for older siblings
• When not in use, store toys so that they do not cause falls or trips
• Make sure children use PPE that properly fits when playing with sports gear
• Throw away damaged or deflated balloons, which can choke or suffocate. Keep them away from kids younger than 8 years old.
• Ensure that only adults handle batteries and charge them because they might get hot and cause burns

Manufacturers regularly issue recalls for various faulty products. Remind patients before they purchase, to go to the CPSC website to check for any outstanding recalls. Toys and other items sometimes remain on the shelves even after a recall has been in place, especially during a busy holiday season.