Safety First This Winter Season

The holidays are full of joy and excitement, especially for children. But each year, more than 300,000 children may end up in the emergency department (ED) for injuries caused by holiday decorations, toys, or burns from a fire. This winter, follow these tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics to help keep your kids out of the ED.

Holiday Hazards

Use prevention strategies to help keep your holidays running smoothly and safely:

• If you have young children, don’t use any decorations that are sharp or breakable, have small removable parts, or look like candy or food.
• After you open presents, remove wrapping paper, ribbons, and other choking hazards. But don’t burn them in the fireplace; they’ll ignite quickly, potentially causing a flash fire.
• Keep toys with button batteries away from small children. These batteries can be deadly if swallowed.
• When you visit friends or family, keep an eye out for danger spots, such as staircases without child gates, in homes that have not been childproofed.

Be Safe to Avoid Winter Weather Woes

For many kids, winter means sledding, ice skating, building snowmen, and having snowball fights. As temperatures fall, keep these tips in mind for outdoor play:

•  Keep kids warm and dry by dressing them in several thin layers. Don’t forget waterproof boots, gloves or mittens, and a hat.
• To prevent hypothermia and frostbite, set a time limit for how long kids can play outside. Have them come indoors every now and then to warm up.
• Supervise young kids when they are sledding, skiing, or snowboarding, and make sure they wear the right protective gear.

Regular Risks

Although the holidays and winter weather can create risky situations for kids, everyday activities can also threaten your child’s health.

So, while you keep an eye out for holiday hazards and winter woes, don’t forget about the usual suspects. For instance, don’t let your kids run on hardwood floors in stocking feet and don’t leave plastic bags where children can reach them.