Safety Tips for the Holiday Season

Don’t let an accident spoil your holiday season. Follow these tips to make sure everything—from toys and decorations to parties—are safe.

Toy Safety

• Pay attention to the packaging on toys, which will usually gives age guidelines such as “Not recommended for children under 3 years of age.” Take into account not just age, but also abilities and skills of your children.
• For children younger than 10, choose battery-operated toys, rather than toys that plug into an electrical outlet.
• Beware of pull toys with strings longer than 12 inches. They can pose strangulation hazards to young children. And steer clear of marbles and toys with parts smaller than 1 ¾ inches in diameter and 2 ¼ inches long. Items that small can cause choking.
• Don’t give younger kids toys with sharp edges, small parts or sharp points, and keep their old sibling’s toys out of reach.
• If you buy skateboards, bicycles, scooters, or inline skates for your kids (or other kids), make sure to also purchase helmets and other safety gear, such as wrist, hand, and shin guards. You’ll want them handy on Christmas morning when they want to try out their presents.

Decorating Safety

• If you set up a fresh Christmas tree, place it away from fireplaces, portable heaters, and radiators. Cutting a few inches off the bottom of the tree trunk will expose fresh wood and increase water absorption. Keep the tree well-watered so it doesn’t dry out and become a fire hazard.
• If you set up an artificial tree, make sure it’s fire-resistant.
• If you have small children, don’t hang ornaments and decorations that resemble food or are breakable.
• String outdoor lights using hooks or insulated staples, not nails or tacks. Turn all lights off when you leave the house or go to bed. Make sure the extension cords you use outside are made for the outdoors.
• Clean up all used wrapping paper, bags, ribbons, and bows soon after opening presents—they could pose a choking, suffocation or fire hazard.

Party Safety

• During cooking and mealtime, keep hot foods and liquids away from the edges of tables and counters to prevent spills and burns.
• If you take your children to visit family’s and friends’ homes, keep in mind they might not be childproofed.  Keep an eye out for any possible hazards.
• Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold! Don’t leave foods requiring refrigeration out at room temperature for longer than two hours.
• It goes without saying, but “Don’t drink and drive” may take some special planning during the holidays. Decide before the party who will be a designated driver, and if that’s you, stick with non-alcoholic beverages!