Avoiding Eye Injuries in Children

At home or outside:

• Household products cause more than 125,000 serious eye injuries each year.

• Wash your hands after using household chemicals.

• Ensure there are no sharp corners on the edges of furnishings and home fixtures.

• Wear chemical safety goggles when using hazardous solvents and detergents, and do not mix cleaning agents around or near your child.

• Turn spray nozzles away from your face and the faces of others.

• Read and follow directions when opening bottle-tops (i.e., wine, carbonated beverages).

• Read and follow directions when playing games and operating equipment.

• Provide lights and handrails to improve safety on stairs.

• Keep paints, pesticides, and fertilizers properly stored in a secure area.

• Make sure you and your child wear recommended protective goggles, helmets, and safety gear during the appropriate activities.

• Use guards on all power equipment.

• Make sure your child's eyes are protected either by a wide-brimmed hat or by wearing ultraviolet-protective sunglasses.

• Teach your child to never look directly at the sun (especially during an eclipse).

At play:

• Each year, hospital emergency rooms treat nearly 40,000 victims of sports eye injuries.

• Make sure your child wears recommended protective eyewear during the appropriate sports and recreational activities.

• A helmet with a polycarbonate face mask or wire shield should be worn during the appropriate sports.

With children:

• Each year, toys and home playground equipment cause more than 11,000 injuries to young eyes.

• Select toys that are appropriate for the child's age and activity level.

• Provide adequate supervision for your child during activities that use sharp objects (i.e., arts and crafts).

• Do not permit a child to play with projectile toys such as pellet guns or bows and arrows.

• Beware of items in playgrounds and play areas that pose potential eye hazards.

• Keep all hazardous cleaning supplies and sprays out of the reach of children.

• Keep children away from fireworks.

• Set an example of using the appropriate protective eyewear during sporting and recreational activities.

• Keep children away from lawnmowers in use, as debris may be projected into the air.

• At school, teach children to wear protective eyewear when performing science or lab experiments.