Safety Tips for Preventing Eye Injuries During The Holidays

The holiday season is a special time of year when friends and family come together in celebration. Unfortunately, this time of joyous gift-giving, scrumptious meals, and free-spirited gatherings come with an increased risk for eye injuries. Amid all the excitement, it’s easy to let our guards down and not be as careful as we would normally be. In this post, a Lake Stevens, WA optometrist offers some safety tips for preventing eye injuries during the holiday season.

Safety Tips for Preventing Eye Injuries

Christmas Tree Decorating

In many homes, decorating the tree marks the official start of the Christmas season. As fun as this activity can be, certain precautions should be taken along the way. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• If you’re cutting down your own tree, be sure to wear protective glasses
• Branches and pine needles can do real damage to your eyes so take time to trim the edges of your tree
• Only use lighting that’s safe and in good condition since bulbs can send glass shards into your eyes if they break or explode
• Children love to play with pretty, sparkly things so keep an eye on them when they’re around the tree

Children and Toys 

On average, one child requires emergency care every three minutes as a result of a toy-related injury. During this gift-giving season, the risk runs even higher. When choosing gifts for children, steer clear of any toys that emit projectiles or have sharp edges that can cause damage to the eyes. Other things to consider include:

• Only buy age-appropriate (or maturity-appropriate) toys
• Supervise young children who are playing with new toys
• Buy protective eyewear to pair with “risky” toys

Safety Tips for New Year’s Eve Celebrations

New Year’s Eve celebrations can be a raucous time where eye safety precautions should be taken. Two of the biggest risks to your eyes on this pivotal evening are champagne corks and fireworks. Here are a few safety tips to consider:

Champagne

• Use a towel to keep the cork from flying
• Hold the bottle at a 45-degree angle
• Always point the bottle away from people and crowds

Fireworks

• Use protective eyewear
• Always set off fireworks in an open space, away from people
• Keep children away from firework stands

For more tips on how to keep your eyes safe this holiday season, please don’t hesitate to contact your Lake Stevens, WA optometrist.

Wishing you and yours a happy and safe holiday season!