Air-powered guns such as these are responsible for numerous injuries. The National Society to Prevent Blindness says that more than 3000 eye injuries are caused in the United States each year from BB, pellet guns, and other toy weapons including sling shots and cap guns. Discard the plastic wrapping or bags that come with children's toys to prevent accidental suffocation. Putting Risk in Perspective A child under age five faces a one in 250 chance of being seriously injured by a toy this year. Between ages five and fifteen that risk decreases to one in 1000.
Stairs account for three times more injuries to children under age five than do toys.
Chairs injure 50 percent more children than toys do. Keeping children safe in the home means constant vigilance as well as built-in safety in furniture and housing design. The major risk for older children comes from sports. Older children between ages 5 and 14 are 10 times more likely to be injured playing basketball, football or baseball than they are playing with toys. Around the holidays parents need to pay special attention to trees, candles and decorative lights, said Dr. Thomas Clark, UOMC pediatrician.