Keeping children safe this holiday season

Follow me on Twitter @drClaire Holidays are best when they are spent having fun with friends and family — not spent in an emergency room. Yet every year that’s where thousands of people end up, due to holiday-related injuries and illnesses. Here are some tips to help keep your children safe and well this holiday season, from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Holiday decorations They make everything more festive, that’s true, but they can be dangerous. If you buy a live tree, make sure it’s not dried out. Cut a few inches off the bottom, and keep the stand filled with water. If you use an artificial tree, be sure it’s fire resistant. Be careful about where you put a tree. Don’t put it near something hot, don’t put it somewhere it’s likely to get knocked over, or where it blocks people walking. If there are small children in the house, don’t use decorations that children could choke on, or that could break easily and cause cuts. If you want to put them on a tree, keep them up high. Avoid decorations that look like food. Children might try to eat them. Check lights for loose or frayed wires before putting them up. Before putting lights outside, be sure they are meant to go outside (water and electricity is a bad combination). Remember that mistletoe berries, Jerusalem cherries, and holly berries can be poisonous if eaten. If you light candles, make sure that they are somewhere safe, and don’t leave them unattended. Toys Make sure that they bring joy, not ...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Children's Health Parenting Safety Source Type: blogs