You're busy baking cookies, wrapping presents, trimming the tree, and getting the house ready for relatives. The furthest thing from your mind is safety. But toys, holiday decorations, and holiday foods can present dangers, and cause you and your loved ones injuries. By following a few safety tips, you can make sure your holidays are truly a time of merriment and joy.

Toys

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most toy-related injuries involve lacerations, abrasions, and bruises followed by swallowing a foreign body (such as a piece of the toy), fractures or dislocations, and sprains and strains.

The CDC states "Parents and other caregivers can prevent toy-related injuries by making informed decisions about the correct type of toy to buy and periodically monitoring children's use of toys to ensure that toys are being used safely," agency officials say.

To reduce the risk of toy-related injuries, the CDC advises consumers buying toys to:

If your child receives a bicycle, roller blades, a skateboard, or other such toys as a present, be sure a helmet, or other safety equipment is included as well. Get your children into the habit of never riding a bike or skating without wearing a helmet, or safety equipment. (Remember, children look to their parents, so be sure you're always wearing one as well.)

Holiday Decorations

Strings of decorative lights, hung outside the house or in, can be very pretty and dazzling to all who view them. But before they're hung, they can be pretty enticing to young child as well.

Therefore take care not to leave them accessible to young hands, as they may find their way into their mouths (causing possible lacerations) or around their necks (a strangulation hazard).

Cords and plugs should be kept hidden and not left dangling. Avoid overloading outlets and run extension cord along the walls, not across the room or under a rug. If needed, use electrical tape to secure the cords.

Your tree or other large decorative objects should be firmly secured. Placing your tree in a wide-based stand will help prevent it from falling over if bumped into or pulled on by your child, or even your pet. Be careful too of where you place the ornaments on your tree. They may find their way into the mouths or around the necks of young children, or in the way of a wagging tail.

Gathering your family and friends around a crackling fire, or burning a lot of candles in a room to create a warm atmosphere is inviting, but also presents a safety concern as well. Always use a fireplace screen when burning a fire and keep young children and pets away from burning fires or flames.

Place your holiday decorations away from burning candles and don't let candles burn when you're out of the room. Fire safety also includes keeping your tree well watered and clearing out any dry needles, plants, or flowers.

Several flowers and plants commonly used as decorations can be dangerous. For example, the berries found on holly sprigs and mistletoe are poisonous if eaten. If you have young children or pets, check with your florist or plant nursery to see if there are any safety concerns you should know.

Holiday Foods

With holiday buffets and gifts of food, food allergies may arise during this festive season. So if you have a food allergy, be sure to take care and ask about the ingredients.

Also, during this time of holiday cheer, many foods and beverages, such as cakes, punch, and eggnog, may be "spiked" with alcohol. Ask your host especially if younger children or older adults are present.

The holidays are a time of merriment and joy. Be sure yours is safe too!

 

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