"Virtually all of these eye injuries are preventable," said Sherry Williams, President and CEO of Prevent Blindness Ohio. "That statement in itself is a powerful incentive for parents to follow simple precautions when buying toys and supervising their children's use of them."

"More than half of all toys in the U.S. are purchased during the holiday season, which means that safety should always be an important part of holiday gift-giving," said J. Nick Baird, M.D., director of the Ohio Department of Health. "We encourage all parents and caregivers to always read warning labels and be safety conscious before buying toys to help prevent toy-related injuries."

With the holiday season in full swing, Prevent Blindness Ohio has the following tips on how to make this a safe holiday season:

• Inspect toys for safe construction. Products given to young children should be made of durable plastic or wood with no sharp edges or points.
  
• The toys should be able to withstand impact. Avoid purchasing toys with small parts for young children.
  
• Check your children's toys regularly for broken parts. Throw broken toys out immediately if they cannot be safely repaired. Older kids often alter their toys and misuse them, making them unsafe.
  
• Read the instructions and suggested age level on the packaging. Assess whether the item is appropriate for the child's ability and age. Age labeling is provided not just for developmental reasons, but for safety reasons as well.
  
• Avoid toys that shoot projectiles, such as toy guns - they contribute to a large number of serious eye injuries. Last year, there were close to 3,000 eye injuries in children under the age of 14 caused by toy weapons, BB guns, slingshots and other propelled toys.
  
• Look for the symbol ASTM F963. This indicates the product meets the national safety standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
  
• Make recommendations to family members and friends about gifts that you feel are appropriate for your child.
  
• Keep an eye out for recalled products. Large toy retailers often post regular notices of recalled toys at the front of the store. Take recalled products back to the store where they were purchased for a full refund. For further information on toy and product recalls, visit the U.S. Product Safety Commission website at http://www.cpsc.gov.
  

Prevent Blindness Ohio, founded in 1957, is the only voluntary, not-for-profit Ohio organization dedicated to preventing blindness and preserving sight. It serves all 88 Ohio counties, providing direct services to more than 70,000 Ohioans annually and educating millions of consumers about what they can do to protect and preserve their precious gift of sight. Prevent Blindness Ohio is an affiliate of Prevent Blindness America, the country's second-oldest national voluntary health organization.