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Safety Tips for the Holidays
Tree Safety Position your tree a good distance away from any heat sources like fireplaces, radiators or portable heaters. Cut a few inches off the trunk of your tree to expose the fresh wood. This allows for better water absorption and will help to keep your tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard. 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. If you purchase an artificial tree, make sure it's labeled fire-resistant. If your artificial tree is metallic, don't put lights on it: they'll create a fire hazard. Outdoor Fun Make sure your child's gloves and shoes stay dry. If either becomes wet, change your child into a dry pair. Sledding on or into the roadway should be prohibited. Look for shallow slopes that are free of obstacles such as trees and fences. Cutting down your own tree for the holiday may start a wonderful family tradition. Young children can pick out the tree while an adult does the chopping. Food Safety Bacteria are often present in raw foods. Fully cook meats and poultry, and thoroughly wash raw vegetables and fruits. Be sure to keep hot liquids and foods away from the edges of counters and tables, where they can be easily knocked over by a young child's exploring hands. Wash your hands frequently, and make sure your children do the same. Never put a spoon used to taste food back into food without washing it. Always keep raw foods and cooked foods separate, and use separate utensils when preparing them. Always thaw meat in the refrigerator, never on the countertop. Foods that require refrigeration should never be left at room temperature for more than two hours. Warm, Bright, and Safe Install smoke detectors on each level of your home, especially outside each bedroom. Use a sturdy fireplace screen to prevent sparks from igniting newspapers, carpeting, curtains and upholstery. Only use the fireplace when you're home and awake. Extinguish the fire when you go out or at bedtime. Plugging lights directly into sockets and limiting the use of extension cords will cut down on the chances of a fire. If an electrical cord feels warm to the touch, it's probably working too hard and is a fire hazard. Happy Visiting Clean up immediately after a holiday party. A toddler could rise early and choke on leftover food or come in contact with alcohol or tobacco. Remember that the homes you visit may not be childproofed. Keep an eye out for danger spots. Ask your neighbor if they have a gun before sending your kids over to play. If the answer is yes, you need to make absolutely sure that all guns are stored unloaded and locked - ideally in a gun safe - with ammunition locked separately. Include the question along with other things you might normally discuss before sending your child to someone's house. Keep a laminated 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 poison control center. Have a safe and happy holiday! Celebrating with Children Matches and Lighters: Use only lighters designed to be child resistant, and keep all matches and lighters out of children's reach — up high and preferably in a locked cabinet. Party Safety: Use only flame-retardant or noncombustible materials for costumes and decorations. Use chafing dishes with caution. Provide smokers with large deep, non-tip ashtrays. Electric Lights: Be sure all indoor and outdoor holiday lights bear the label of an independent testing laboratory. Do not overload electrical outlets or run extension cords under carpets, across doorways, or near heaters. Be sure extension cords are not pinched behind or under furniture, and unplug all decorative lights before leaving your home or going to bed. Candles: Put candles in non-tip candle holders and light them only when they are securely in their holders. Never burn candles near a Christmas tree, decorations or displays. Keep candles well away from curtains and other combustibles, and never put candles in windows or near exits. Don't leave candles burning unattended or within the reach of small children. Extinguish candles before you leave a room or go to bed. Fireplaces: Keep fireplace fires small, and always use a fireplace screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room. Do not leave children alone in a room with a fireplace fire. Never burn trash or paper in a fireplace; burning paper can float up your chimney and onto your roof or into your yard. Remove ashes in a metal container and store them outside. Article courtesy of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Tips courtesy of the National Fire Protection Association.
Tree Safety
Position your tree a good distance away from any heat sources like fireplaces, radiators or portable heaters.
Cut a few inches off the trunk of your tree to expose the fresh wood. This allows for better water absorption and will help to keep your tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.
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.
If you purchase an artificial tree, make sure it's labeled fire-resistant. If your artificial tree is metallic, don't put lights on it: they'll create a fire hazard.
Outdoor Fun
Make sure your child's gloves and shoes stay dry. If either becomes wet, change your child into a dry pair.
Sledding on or into the roadway should be prohibited. Look for shallow slopes that are free of obstacles such as trees and fences.
Cutting down your own tree for the holiday may start a wonderful family tradition. Young children can pick out the tree while an adult does the chopping.
Food Safety
Bacteria are often present in raw foods. Fully cook meats and poultry, and thoroughly wash raw vegetables and fruits.
Be sure to keep hot liquids and foods away from the edges of counters and tables, where they can be easily knocked over by a young child's exploring hands.
Wash your hands frequently, and make sure your children do the same.
Never put a spoon used to taste food back into food without washing it.
Always keep raw foods and cooked foods separate, and use separate utensils when preparing them.
Always thaw meat in the refrigerator, never on the countertop.
Foods that require refrigeration should never be left at room temperature for more than two hours.
Warm, Bright, and Safe
Install smoke detectors on each level of your home, especially outside each bedroom.
Use a sturdy fireplace screen to prevent sparks from igniting newspapers, carpeting, curtains and upholstery.
Only use the fireplace when you're home and awake. Extinguish the fire when you go out or at bedtime.
Plugging lights directly into sockets and limiting the use of extension cords will cut down on the chances of a fire.
If an electrical cord feels warm to the touch, it's probably working too hard and is a fire hazard.
Happy Visiting
Clean up immediately after a holiday party. A toddler could rise early and choke on leftover food or come in contact with alcohol or tobacco.
Remember that the homes you visit may not be childproofed. Keep an eye out for danger spots.
Ask your neighbor if they have a gun before sending your kids over to play. If the answer is yes, you need to make absolutely sure that all guns are stored unloaded and locked - ideally in a gun safe - with ammunition locked separately. Include the question along with other things you might normally discuss before sending your child to someone's house.
Keep a laminated 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 poison control center.
Have a safe and happy holiday!
Celebrating with Children
Matches and Lighters: Use only lighters designed to be child resistant, and keep all matches and lighters out of children's reach — up high and preferably in a locked cabinet.
Party Safety: Use only flame-retardant or noncombustible materials for costumes and decorations.
Use chafing dishes with caution. Provide smokers with large deep, non-tip ashtrays.
Electric Lights: Be sure all indoor and outdoor holiday lights bear the label of an independent testing laboratory.
Do not overload electrical outlets or run extension cords under carpets, across doorways, or near heaters.
Be sure extension cords are not pinched behind or under furniture, and unplug all decorative lights before leaving your home or going to bed.
Candles: Put candles in non-tip candle holders and light them only when they are securely in their holders.
Never burn candles near a Christmas tree, decorations or displays.
Keep candles well away from curtains and other combustibles, and never put candles in windows or near exits.
Don't leave candles burning unattended or within the reach of small children. Extinguish candles before you leave a room or go to bed.
Fireplaces: Keep fireplace fires small, and always use a fireplace screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room.
Do not leave children alone in a room with a fireplace fire. Never burn trash or paper in a fireplace; burning paper can float up your chimney and onto your roof or into your yard.
Remove ashes in a metal container and store them outside.