Ho-ho-home Safety

12 Safety Tips for a Merry & Bright Holiday Season

The holiday season is downright magical. The lights! The cherished
family ornaments! The candles, plants and tree! After the first holiday season
with an active child, we quickly realize all decorations aren’t made to be
kid-friendly. It takes some effort from the grown-ups to ensure little ones are
safe while celebrating the magic of the season. Luckily, The American Academy
of Pediatrics created a list of tips to keep everyone in your home safe, and
the holidays merry.

1. When purchasing a live tree, check for
   freshness. The needles should be hard to pull off, and should not easily break
   when you bend them. When you tap the tree on the ground, only a few needles
   should fall off. Cut a few inches off the bottom of the trunk before putting it
   in the stand, and be sure to keep the stand filled with water.
2. If you have an artificial tree, make sure it’s
   labeled “Fire Resistant.”
3. When setting up a tree at home, place it away
   from fireplaces, radiators or portable heaters. Place the tree out of the way
   of traffic and do not block doorways.
4. Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant
   materials to trim a tree.
5. Check all lights before hanging them on a tree
   or in your home, even if you have just purchased them. Make sure all the bulbs
   work and that there are no frayed wires, broken sockets or loose connections.
6. Be cautious about trimmings that may contain
   lead. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded materials.
   Light strands may contain lead in the bulb sockets and wire coating, sometimes
   in high amounts. Make sure your lights are out of reach of young children who
   might try to put lights in their mouths, and wash your hands after handling
   them.
7. Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be
   sure they have been certified for outdoor use. To hold lights in place, string
   them through hooks or insulated staples, not nails or tacks. Never pull or tug
   lights to remove them. Plug all outdoor electric decorations into circuits with
   ground fault circuit interrupters to avoid potential shocks. And, watch your step
   if using a ladder to deck your halls.
8. When lighting candles, remove flammable
   materials from the area, and place the candles where they will not be knocked
   over. Never leave a burning candle unattended. Do not use lighted candles on a
   tree or near other evergreens.
9. In homes with small children, take special care
   to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable. Keep trimmings with small
   removable parts out of the reach of children to prevent them from swallowing or
   inhaling small pieces. Avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may
   tempt a young child to eat them.
10. Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation
    while decorating with spun glass “angel hair.” Follow container
    directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while decorating with artificial
    snow sprays.
11. Remove all wrapping papers, bags, paper, ribbons
    and bows from tree and fireplace areas after gifts are opened. These items can
    pose suffocation and choking hazards to a small child, or can cause a fire if
    near flame.
12. Keep potentially poisonous holiday plant
    decorations, including mistletoe berries, Jerusalem cherry, and holly berry,
    away from children, and pets too.

Don’t forget: When you leave your home or head to bed for the
night, take a look around to be sure all decorations are turned off, candles
are blown out and nothing is stirring (not even a mouse).

IHA Urgent Care is open on holidays! If your little sugarplumb experiences an injury or illness this holiday season, we’re here to help, and are open on holidays. Save your spot in line at an IHA Urgent Care location near you.