December declared Safe Toys and Gift Month

Chicago-The holiday shopping season is in full swing and with it comes concerns of toy safety. It was estimated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission that 202,300 children were treated in the emergency room for toy-related injuries in 2005 and 7,820 of those injuries were to the eyes.

December has been designated as Safe Toys and Gifts Month by Prevent Blindness America (PBA) to provide safety tips to all those buying gifts for children this year.

"We all want to make sure our children have the best holiday ever and receive whatever gift they are wishing for. But, unfortunately, the toy that is on top of their wish list may not be the most appropriate for their age and development level," said Daniel D. Garrett, senior vice president of PBA. "We all need to make an effort to take every safety precaution to protect our kids."

Some of the precautions parents can take this year include inspecting all toys before purchasing, accompanying sports equipment with protective eyewear, and only allowing children to play with toys labeled "supervision required" in the company of an adult.