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The holiday hazard season

December is a festive time of the year, but it also creates dangerous situations for small children.

By KATHERINE SNOW SMITH
Published December 13, 2005

When we think of the holidays and children, visions of happy kids opening gifts, gobbling cookies and munching on candy canes come to mind.

All of these picturesque scenes do take place, of course, but the holiday season is also ripe with potential for injuries and illness for children.

Many factors contribute to this, such as the abundance of food and candy, increased traveling, new plants in the house, candles, toys with small parts. Add to that the general chaos of parties and family gatherings that distract watchful eyes away from curious children.

"We see such an increase in things that are preventable," said Bevin Maynard, Safe Kids coordinator at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa. "The key advice to parents is supervision and to not allow your children access" to everything from swimming pools to candles.

Though there aren't as many as during the summer months, there is a spike in the number of drownings during the holidays compared to other nonsummer months. This is because kids are out of school and parents are more distracted. Also, children may be visiting a home with a pool or hot tub and parents aren't accustomed to keeping their young ones away from the water.

The number of kids in the emergency room because of poisonings also goes up during the holidays. Many seasonal plants are toxic, such as Christmas pepper, holly and mistletoe berries. Poinsettias actually are not that toxic, Maynard said, but the sap can be irritating. If a child does chew on a piece, clear his mouth of the plant and offer him something to drink.

And whether you think something is poisonous or not, if you have any concerns, call the American Association of Poison Control Centers toll-free at 1-800-222-1222. If holidays bring cooler weather there is an increase in the potential for fires from space heaters. No matter what the temperature, people burn many more candles during the holidays, and they often lead to accidents. "Never leave candles burning unattended or within a child's reach," Maynard said.

When buying toys, pay close attention to the age listed on the box to make sure the recipient can't choke on any small pieces. "We see a lot more choking (during the holidays) with toys," she said.

So your 1-year-old may have received age-appropriate toys with no small pieces, but his 10-year-old cousin might have a new game or puzzle with tiny parts. Make sure the older kids don't leave their Risk game or fingernail polish kit where younger children can get into it.

A Christmas tree can lead to holiday mishaps too. Most accidents are fire related, so make sure your tree isn't near a fireplace or any source of heat.

If you buy an artificial tree, look for safety labels indicating it is fire resistant. Make sure you turn indoor and outdoor lights off before going to bed.

Think about where you hang ornaments. Ones that can break and cut little hands and feet should be out of reach at the top of the tree. Decorations that look like treats can be a choking hazard to a child who thinks they are the real thing.

All the food we eat can land people, especially children and the elderly, in the emergency room with food-borne illnesses. That means symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal cramping, fever, nausea or vomiting, according to Debra Holtzman, a safety expert in Hollywood, Fla., and co-chair of the Florida Safe Kids Coalition.

"The company comes at 4 o'clock, and at 8 o'clock the trays with the cheese and cold cuts are still out. A child could get sick from eating that," said Holtzman, who has also written a book titled The Safe Baby: A Do It Yourself Guide to Home Safety. "Everybody loves to get into the (cookie) batter, but you have the raw eggs and run the risk of salmonella."

Still, you don't have to take all the fun out of baking with your kids. Most cookie dough sold in stores is pasteurized, so kids won't get sick from that, Holtzman said.

Candy canes are another traditional holiday treat that can end up being anything but that. "They can choke on them or it can get stuck in the throat. Candy canes are for the older set," Holtzman cautioned. "Or you can hold it for a younger child, let him take a couple licks, that's fine."

Thinking about these dangers may take some of the fun out of the holidays. But don't panic. Just use common sense and keep a close eye on your kids.

-- Katherine Snow Smith writes the Rookie Mom column for Neighborhood Times in St. Petersburg.

[Last modified December 12, 2005, 15:33:03]