Tips for an injury-free holiday season  provided by our Pediatric Surgery Department and the Injury Prevention Program.
The holidays are a fun time of year for most children, with the anticipation of getting gifts, seeing family and being out of school. It is also an important time of year to be mindful of your children's safety. Holiday decorations, traveling, new toys, and visiting homes that may not be childproofed, can put your children in danger. Some simple precautions can help to make sure that your children have a fun and safe holiday.
Childproofing for the Holidays
Most parents understand the importance of childproofing their homes. Gates on stairs, using smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and keeping medicines and poisons out of reach are fairly standard in many homes.
In addition to the risks of holiday decorations, younger children can get into trouble if they visit a home during the holidays (or anytime of year) that isn't childproofed. It is especially likely that a home isn't childproofed if you are visiting grandma and grandpa and they don't usually have children in the house. In addition to not having safety locks on cabinets, gates on stairs, covers on electrical outlets, etc., they may also have prescription medications that aren't in a child resistant container.
Questions to Ask:
- Do they have a pool? Does it have a fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate? Can the children get to the area where the pool is located?
- Are there guns in the house? Are they stored unloaded in a locked box with the bullets locked separately?
- Are there small objects, such as hard candy or nuts in candy dishes, where younger children can get them?
- Are there gates on the stairs?
- Are medications, poisons and household cleaners out of reach?
- Do they have a pet that may harm the children, such as a Rottweiler, pit bull or German shepherd?
- If your child has food allergies, will they be serving that food?
You may think that you will just watch your child more closely, even if the house isn't childproofed, but this is hard if there are a lot of family members and friends present and the kids are all playing together. If there are going to be a lot of younger children present at a holiday gathering, you might consider volunteering to go over beforehand and childproof the house for them.
Toy Safety
The following tips will help consumers choose appropriate toys:
- Select safe toys to suit the age, abilities, skills, and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards to younger children.
- For infants, toddlers, and all children who still mouth objects, avoid toys with small parts which could pose a fatal choking hazard.
- Look for sturdy construction, such as tightly secured eyes, noses, and other potential small parts.
- For all children under age 8, avoid toys that have sharp edges and points.
- Do not purchase electric toys with heating elements for children under age 8.
- Be a label reader. Look for labels that give age recommendations and use that information as a guide.
- Check instructions for clarity. They should be clear to you, and when appropriate, to the child.
- Immediately discard plastic wrappings on toys, which can cause suffocation, before they become deadly playthings.
- If your child is going to be getting something that he can ride, such as a bicycle, inline skates, scooter, or a skateboard, be sure that he also gets the appropriate protective equipment, including a helmet and pads.
- Discourage your kids from playing with BB and pellet guns.
Decorations
Christmas Trees
- Choose a fire resistant artificial tree or a fresh live tree, which should be green, with needles that are hard to pull off.
- Keep the stand of your live tree filled with water and keep the tree away from the fireplace and radiator.
Christmas Lights
- Make sure lights are not damaged
- Avoid using more than three sets of light on a single extension cord
- Don't overload electrical outlets
Other Decorations
- Decorations should be flame-resistant and made of non-leaded materials.
- Avoid breakable decorations on the tree.
- Make sure the tree is secure and can't be easily tipped over.
- Tinsel and small decorations should not be put near the bottom of the tree where they can be easily in reach of young children.
- You should also avoid edible decorations, including popcorn chains and candy canes, since younger children may think that all of the decorations are edible.
- Keep in mind that artificial snow and flocking materials are not edible, so you may want to avoid them if there are younger children in the home.
- Candles should never be left unattended, placed in an area where they can be easily knocked over or near flammable curtains or decorations.
- Be careful of heavy stocking holders that toddlers and preschoolers can pull down on top of themselves, which is becoming an increasing common hazard as use of these heavy stocking hangers become more popular.
Outdoor Safety
Snowmobiles
- Encourage your child to wear a helmet when using a snowmobile, and while skiing or sledding.
- You should also try to prevent snowmobile injuries which are a common cause of injury in children, with some being fatal.
- The Amercian Academy of Pediatrics recommends that their use be restricted to children over age 16 that have received proper instruction and are wearing protective equipment, including a helmet goggles and boots.
- You can also keep your child safe while snowmobile riding by limiting their use to marked and maintained snowmobile trails.
Holding Stress Levels Down
The holidays can be stressful for some children. Traveling, visiting family members, getting presents, shopping, etc., can all increase your child's stress levels.
- Dress your child appropriately for the weather so that he doesn't get too wet or cold.
- Also keep a close eye on your children when shopping, as it is easily to get lost or taken in a busy store or shopping center.
- 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.
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