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AAO issues air gun safety tips for the holiday season
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The American Academy of Ophthalmology has issued safety tips regarding non-powder guns, such as BB guns, pellet guns and paintball guns, when given as gifts this holiday season.
Recent studies have found that such guns can cause blindness in children and that injuries from them have increased exponentially over the past two decades.
To prevent eye injuries with these non-powder guns, the AAO is recommending gift givers include protective eyewear with their presents.
In addition to eye protection, the organization recommends a target to make sure children have a place to aim their guns, education on how to use them and constant adult supervision.
“Ophthalmologists see firsthand the devastating damage toy guns can inflict on the eyes; children are blinded,” Dianna Seldomridge, MD, MBA, AAO clinical spokesperson, said in a press release. “The good news is, most of these injuries are avoidable. Protective eyewear and adult supervision make non-powder gun activities much safer for children.”