Safety Tips to Keep the Holiday Season Jolly for Your Family
 For many families the holiday season truly is “the most wonderful time of the year.” School is out, parents take time off of work and families gather to celebrate special traditions. But with all the shopping, dining and Christmas parties – everyone is exceptionally busy during this time of year. Unfortunately, this includes the emergency department. Learn to protect your family from common dangers, so you can enjoy a holiday season that's healthy, safe and happy.
Be Diligent With Decorating
Everyone gets excited to start seeing the holiday lights go up around the neighborhood and families get in the spirit of decorating their own houses. But before you decorate, be aware of any potential decorating dangers.
- When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant."
- When setting up a fresh or artificial tree at home, place it away from fireplaces, radiators or portable heaters. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.
- Cut a few inches off the trunk of your tree to expose the fresh wood. This allows for better water absorption and will help keep your tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.
- Be sure to keep the stand filled with water, because heated rooms can rapidly dry out live trees.
- Check all tree lights, even if you've just purchased them, before hanging them on your tree. Make sure all the bulbs work and that there are no frayed wires, broken sockets or loose connections.
- Before putting lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use. To hold lights in place, string them through hooks or insulated staples, instead of nails or tacks. Never pull or tug lights to remove them.
- Don't overload indoor or outdoor electrical outlets. Circuits that are overloaded with lights, decorations and accessories can start a fire.
- Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
- Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other trees or greenery. Always use
non-flammable holders and place candles where they will not be knocked over. - In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable. Keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to prevent them from swallowing or inhaling small pieces. Avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a young child to eat them.
- Remove all wrapping paper, bags, paper, ribbons and bows from tree and fireplace areas after gifts are opened. These items can pose suffocation and choking hazards to a small child or can cause a fire if near a flame.
- Mistletoe, holly, poinsettias, Jerusalem cherry plants and other plants are commonly used as decorations during the holidays. Like many plants, these are considered potentially poisonous and should be kept out of the reach of kids.
- Symptoms of plant poisoning can include rashes, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If you suspect that your child has eaten any part of a plant, immediately call your doctor or the National Poison Center Help Line: (800) 222-1222.
Holiday Festivities & Parties
One of the best things about the holidays is reuniting with family and friends and being able to let loose and have some fun. Just be sure that important safety precautions are made to keep the fun from stopping.
- Alcohol poisoning is a common risk for children during the holiday season. Clean up immediately after a holiday party. A toddler could wake up early and choke on leftover food or come in contact with alcohol or tobacco.
- Food poisoning is another potential holiday hazard. Practice food safety by washing hands, utensils, dishes, and anything else that comes in contact with raw meat, including poultry and fish, and raw eggs before and after use. Don't contaminate a serving dish with raw meat. Store leftovers properly and heat them thoroughly before serving.
- Remember that the homes you visit may not be childproofed. Keep an eye out for potential danger.
- Keep a list with all of the important phone numbers you or a baby-sitter are likely to need in case of an emergency. Include the police and fire department, your pediatrician and the National Poison Center Help Line: (800) 222-1222.
- Traveling, visiting family members, getting presents, shopping, etc., can all increase your child's stress levels. Trying to stick to your child's usual routines, including sleep schedules and timing of naps, can help you and your child enjoy the holidays and reduce stress.
- Tree ornaments, light bulbs, icicles, tinsel and small toys are potential choking hazards for small children because they may block the airway.
- Common holiday foods such as peanuts or popcorn are potential choking hazards and should not be given to children under the age of 4.
- The needles of holiday trees can cause painful cuts in the mouth and throat of a child who swallows them.
- Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children.
- Before buying a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy that he or she has received as a gift, read the instructions carefully.
- To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, don’t give young children (under 10) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.
- Children under 3 years old can choke on small parts contained in toys or games. Government regulations specify that toys for children under the age of 3 can’t have parts less than 11/4 inches in diameter and 21/4 inches long.
- Children can have serious stomach and intestinal problems — including death — after swallowing button’s batteries and magnets. Keep them away from young children and call your health care provider immediately if your child swallows one.
- Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.
- Parents should store toys in a designated location, such as on a shelf or in a toy chest, and keep older kids’ toys away from young children.
- A lot of cooking goes on during the holiday season, so there are many opportunities for burns and scaldings. Keep pot handles turned away from the front of the stove and always keep the oven door closed. To prevent accidents, watch your kids while you bake or cook. Kitchen appliances should be clean to prevent potential fires.
- Keep breakable ornaments out of young childrens' reach — or keep them off the tree until they are older. If an ornament does break, clean up the broken glass quickly.
- Test your smoke alarms monthly. To make it easier to keep track of whether your batteries are fresh, write the date you last changed them on your batteries with a marker. Motivation: the number of kids who are injured or killed in home fires more than doubles in the winter.
- There is an increased incidence of car accidents and injuries to children during the holiday season. Parents can prevent a holiday ER visit by making sure their kids are buckled up securely during car rides and by not driving after drinking alcohol. In addition, be wary when traveling during the evenings of holidays such as
Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, since there is a higher incidence of drunk-driving accidents on these days.
Keep the holiday season safe for you and your family by following these safety tips. If you have any questions contact your pediatrician.
Tips compiled from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Demours’ Foundation.
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