“The most wonderful time of the year” is just around the corner. Soon the sights and sounds of the holiday season will fill your home and heart.
But before you begin wrapping presents, putting up decorations and lighting candles, think safety, especially if you have a young child or curious pet in the home. According to Consumer Reports, holiday-decorating injuries send an estimated 5,800 people to emergency rooms each year.
Here are some important tips for parents to keep in mind when considering home safety for children. The advice applies to pets as well.
1. Consider every little button, bauble and ornament to be a choking hazard. Until they are old enough to know better, young children put just about everything in their mouths. Pets will also do this no matter how old they are, so don’t leave anything to chance. Keep all decorations out of reach, and be sure to immediately clean up scraps of paper that fall to the floor.
2. Never leave matches, lighters or a lit candle unattended around a child or pet. Children and pets are naturally curious and drawn to flickering flames. It could be disastrous if they knock a candle over and it falls to the floor, lighting the carpet or sofa on fire. Holiday and decorative lights start about 170 home fires a year, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
3. Keep children away from the Christmas tree or menorah. Your child will naturally be fascinated by lights, ornaments and colorful packages. If you have a Christmas tree and it’s not anchored securely in its stand, your child may reach for a low-hanging bough and pull the whole thing down on top of her. Menorahs that are heavy or unstable can easily be knocked down as well.
4. Take Christmas lights safety seriously. Only hang holiday lights and decorations out of a child’s or pet’s reach. Children and pets can easily get wrapped up in the wires, running the risk of being strangled or even electrocuted. While tinsel can make a tree sparkle, it can also be a choking hazard.
5. Keep in mind that some holiday plants are poisonous and should never be left where a child can grab at them. If ingested, mistletoe and holly can cause severe stomach cramps and diarrhea, or sometimes even death.
By keeping these home safety tips top of mind during the holidays, parents can prevent a trip to the emergency room or vet’s office this holiday season.
