Protecting young children from eye injuries at
home and at play
The most common causes of eye injuries to children are:
- Misuse of toys
- Falls from beds, against furniture, on
stairs, and when playing with toys
- Misuse of everyday tools and objects
(work and garden tools, knives and forks, pens and pencils)
- Contact with harmful household products
(detergents, paints, glues, etc.)
- Automobile accidents.
This checklist can help you reduce the risks
of eye injuries for young children in your home:
Indoor
Safety ▼
- Use safety gates at the top and bottom of
stairs.
- Provide lights and handrails to improve
safety on stairs.
- Pad or cushion sharp corners and edges of
furnishing and home fixtures.
- Install cabinet and drawer locks in
kitchens and bathrooms.
- Store personal-use items (cosmetics,
toiletry products), kitchen utensils, and desk supplies
where they are out of reach for children.
- Keep paints, pesticides, fertilizers, and
similar products properly stored in a secure area.
Toy Safety ▼
- Read all warnings and instructions on
toys.
- Avoid toys with sharp or rigid points,
shafts, spikes, rods, and dangerous edges.
- Keep toys intended for older children
away from younger children.
- Avoid flying toys and projectile-firing
toys; these pose a danger to all children, particularly
those under five years old.
- Be aware of items in playgrounds and play
areas that pose potential eye hazards.
- Keep BB guns away from kids.
- Read our Safe Toy Checklist for more
children's eye safety tips
Car Safety ▼
- Use occupant restraints such as infant
and child safety seats, booster seats, safety belts, and
shoulder harnesses in cars.
- Children age 12 and younger should never
ride in the front seat.
- Store loose items in the trunk, or
secured on the floor. Any loose object can become dangerous
in a crash.
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