Holiday injury prevention tips
By Kristian Weatherspoon
Published December 21, 2017
Whether you're visiting family or tracking down the perfect gift for your loved one, the holidays can bring lots of stress, and safety can end up last on your list. Practice these tips for a safe, healthy and happy season.
Gift safety
- Avoid heavy or awkwardly-shaped items for older adults; they can be difficult to hold.
- Pick age-appropriate toys. Use age recommendations on toys to help ensure young children do not find small pieces or parts they might accidentally swallow.
- Avoid small tree decorations that can be swallowed by children.
- Beware of button batteries used to power electronic toys. They are a potential danger for small children.
Christmas tree safety
- Water your Christmas tree daily to prevent it from drying out and becoming a fire hazard. Trees need approximately 1 quart of water for 1 inch of stem/trunk diameter.
- Make sure your tree is at least 3 feet away from any heat sources, like a fireplace, heat vent or candle to lower the risk of fire.
- All lights should be marked with the UL safety test seal, otherwise they may cause a fire.
- Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed to reduce the risk of fire.
Food safety
- Keep alcohol out of reach from children. Dispose of leftover drinks immediately to avoid exposing them to kids.
- Say no to raw dough. Flour can contain germs like E. coli. The bacteria are killed when food made with flour is cooked. It unsafe to taste or eat when raw. Raw dough used for crafts and play clay can also make children sick.