Eye injuries from paintball games have increased among children, even as the protective equipment for the sport has improved, according to a study released yesterday in the journal pediatrics.
Eye
injuries
from
paintball
games
have
increased
among
children
,
even
as
the
protective
equipment
for
the
sport
has
improved
,
according
to
a
study
released
yesterday
in
the
journal
pediatrics
.
The Federal Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated the number of emergency room visits for eye injuries caused by paintballs at 545 in 2001 and more than 1,200 in 2003.
The
Federal
Consumer
Product
Safety
Commission
estimated
the
number
of
emergency
room
visits
for
eye
injuries
caused
by
paintballs
at
545
in
2001
and
more
than
1,200
in
2003
.
More than 40 percent of those injuries were believed to involve children, the study said.
More
than
40
percent
of
those
injuries
were
believed
to
involve
children
,
the
study
said
.
Paintballs are fired at a speed of up to 300 feet a second, the study said.
Paintballs
are
fired
at
a
speed
of
up
to
300
feet
a
second
,
the
study
said
.
Being so small, they can fit inside the bones meant to protect the eye.
Being
so
small
,
they
can
fit
inside
the
bones
meant
to
protect
the
eye
.
The study's author, Dr. David A. Listman of St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, said paintball shopping centers had generally switched to full face masks, which have become more effective at protecting the eyes than earlier "gear".
The
study
's
author
,
Dr.
David
A.
Listman
of
St.
Barnabas
Hospital
in
the
Bronx
,
said
paintball
shopping
centers
had
generally
switched
to
full
face
masks
,
which
have
become
more
effective
at
protecting
the
eyes
than
earlier
``
gear
''
.
But most injuries now occur in backyard play, which is more likely to involve teenagers or children.
But
most
injuries
now
occur
in
backyard
play
,
which
is
more
likely
to
involve
teenagers
or
children
.
"The injuries being seen are mostly in people who did not wear the proper, or for that matter any, safety equipment," Dr. Listman said.
``
The
injuries
being
seen
are
mostly
in
people
who
did
not
wear
the
proper
,
or
for
that
matter
any
,
safety
equipment
,
''
Dr.
Listman
said
.
Those injuries can involve permanent damage to sight, he said.
Those
injuries
can
involve
permanent
damage
to
sight
,
he
said
.
Dr. Listman said he believed that paintball guns should be restricted to regulated places.
Dr.
Listman
said
he
believed
that
paintball
guns
should
be
restricted
to
regulated
places
.
In the absence of such action, parents should limit children's access to the guns and insist on proper protection.
In
the
absence
of
such
action
,
parents
should
limit
children
's
access
to
the
guns
and
insist
on
proper
protection
.
Paintball guns "should be treated with the same respect as any other firearm," he said "These are the only guns that are made to shoot at your friends."
Paintball
guns
``
should
be
treated
with
the
same
respect
as
any
other
firearm
,
''
he
said
``
These
are
the
only
guns
that
are
made
to
shoot
at
your
friends
.
''
Eye injuries from paintball games have increased among children, even as the protective equipment for the sport has improved, according to a study released yesterday in the journal pediatrics.  The Federal Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated the number of emergency room visits for eye injuries caused by paintballs at 545 in 2001 and more than 1,200 in 2003. More than 40 percent of those injuries were believed to involve children, the study said.  Paintballs are fired at a speed of up to 300 feet a second, the study said. Being so small, they can fit inside the bones meant to protect the eye. The study's author, Dr. David A. Listman of St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, said paintball shopping centers had generally switched to full face masks, which have become more effective at protecting the eyes than earlier "gear". But most injuries now occur in backyard play, which is more likely to involve teenagers or children. "The injuries being seen are mostly in people who did not wear the proper, or for that matter any, safety equipment," Dr. Listman said.  Those injuries can involve permanent damage to sight, he said.  Dr. Listman said he believed that paintball guns should be restricted to regulated places. In the absence of such action, parents should limit children's access to the guns and insist on proper protection. Paintball guns "should be treated with the same respect as any other firearm," he said "These are the only guns that are made to shoot at your friends."