Optometrist urges parents to keep an eye on toy safety

Last year in the United States, there were nearly 24,000 serious eye injuries to children 14 years old and under associated with toys and sporting equipment; 90% of these injuries could have been prevented.

With the Christmas holiday approaching and a lot of new toys being purchased, an optometrist at Saipan’s Seventh-day Adventist Clinic offers advice to local parents.

“Safety should be the first thing a parent thinks about when selecting a toy,” says Dr. David G. Hardt of the Seventh-day Adventist Clinic. “We recently saw a 9-year-old Chamorro boy who had his eye seriously injured by a toy rocket. We’re thankful that he appears to be making a full recovery, but it certainly could have been otherwise.”

Dr. Hardt recommends a few simple guidelines for parents that will help ensure a safe holiday season:

• Avoid toys that shoot or include parts that fly off. Slingshots and water guns are dangerous, because they invite children to target others. BB guns should never be considered toys.

• Inspect toys for sound construction. Toys should be made of durable materials, have no sharp edges or points, and should withstand impact.

• Read instructions carefully and follow suggested age levels. Age labeling is provided for developmental and safety reasons.

• Avoid giving toys with small parts to young children. Youngsters tend to put things in their mouths, increasing the risk of choking.

• Look for the letters ‘ASTM’. These letters indicate the product meets the national safety standards set by the American Society for Testing & Materials (.ASTM.)

• Explain to your child how to use a toy.

• Repair or remove damaged toys.

• Prevent young children from using toys that are appropriate for older ones.

Dr. Hardt is a graduate of the University of California at Berkley and has been living and working on Saipan for seven years. Before moving to the CNMI, he was a full-time faculty member at Loma Linda University School of Medicine. He is a member of the California Optometric Association and a 17-year member of the American
ptometric Association.

He invites anyone with questions about eye injuries or other eye problems. To contact him, please call the Seventh-day Adventist Clinic on Quartermaster Road at 234-6323.