Did you know that every year… Hospital emergency rooms treat about 12,500 people for holiday related injuries.  Falls, cuts and shocks have been related to holiday lights, decorations and Christmas trees.
To prevent injuries when enjoying holiday lights ….follow these safety tips:
• Never use electric lights on a metallic tree.  The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a tree branch could be electrocuted.
• Before using lights, check labels to be sure that they have been tested and certified for safety standards.
• Turn off all holiday lights when you go to bed or leave the house; the lights could short out causing a fire.
Candles start about 11,600 fires each year.  This results in 150 deaths, 1200 injuries and $173 million in property loss.
To prevent candle related fires:
• Never use lighted candles on a tree or near evergreens
• Always use nonflammable holders
• Place candles where they will not be easily knocked over

Christmas trees are involved in about 300 fires annually. This results in 10 deaths, 30 injuries and an average of more than $10 million in property loss and damage.
To prevent Christmas tree fires follow these safety steps:
• When purchasing an artificial tree, look for “fire  resistant”
• When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness.. a fresh tree have needles that are hard to pull off the braches and do not break when bent between your fingers
• When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and radiators. Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water.
When decorating the tree:
• Keep holiday plants out of reach of children and pets
• Ornaments and other holiday decorations can be choking hazards(remember that anything that will go through a toilet paper cardboard.. can cause an airway obstruction in a child
• Angle hair consists of spun glass and can cause eye or mouth irritation
• Some old antique ornaments may contain lead
• Some bubble lights contain methylene chloride which is very poisonous
• Tinsel is not poisonous… but can cause choking in children and pets
• Be careful when using snow sprays...or any decorative spray….Have good ventilation and keep away from children…The  Fluorocarbons in the sprays are poisonous

Carbon Monoxide is  “the invisible killer”. Fuels (wood, oil, kerosene, propane or gasoline) when burned improperly can produce carbon monoxide. 
Cold weather sometimes can make hazards from:
• Generators used during power outages
• Cars and trucks idling in the garage
• Poorly functioning appliances and equipment, vented incorrectly or with worn parts
• Improperly burning heating systems Heating homes with gas ovens
• Improperly vented or blocked stove or fireplace
• Blocked or sealed shut exhaust flues or appliance ducts.
Remember to check your carbon monoxide detectors monthly for current batteries, place them near sleeping areas
• Know signs and symptoms of CO poisoning  (headache, fatique, shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness)
• Evacuate home immediately if the detector goes off 

Toxic Trivia
In 1938, following the success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Walt Disney and his brother Roy purchased their parents a new home near the Disney studios in California.  After complaints about fumes from the gas furnace in the home, studio maintenance men were sent but the furnace was never properly fixed.  Flora Disney died from carbon monoxide poisoning on November 26, 1938. Elias, her husband, nearly died as well. 

The holidays are an exciting time of year for kids, and to help ensure they have a safe holiday season. Sandra Hare, District Nurse, has sent you the following Holiday Safety Tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics Web site ( http://www.aap.org ).

Trees
-- When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant."
-- When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness.  A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
-- 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.
-- Cut a few inches off the trunk of your tree to expose the fresh wood.  This allows for better water absorption and will help keep your tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.
-- Be sure to keep the stand filled with water, because heated rooms can dry live trees out rapidly.

Lights
-- Check all tree lights-even if you've just purchased them-before hanging them on your tree.  Make sure all the bulbs work and that there are no frayed wires, broken sockets or loose connections.
-- Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
-- 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.
-- Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.

Decorations
-- Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals.
-- Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked over.
-- 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.
-- 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.
-- 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.

Toy Safety
-- Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child.  Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children. 
-- Before buying a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy that he has received as a gift, read the instructions carefully.
-- To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, don’t give young children (under age ten) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet.  Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.
-- Children under age three can choke on small parts contained in toys or games. Government regulations specify that toys for children under age three cannot have parts less than 1 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/4 inches long.
-- Children can have serious stomach and intestinal problems – including death -- after swallowing button batteries and magnets.  Keep them away from young children and call your health care provider immediately if your child swallows one. 
-- Children under age 8 can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Remove strings and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children.
-- Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.
-- Parents should store toys in a designated location, such as on a shelf or in a toy chest, and keep older kids' toys away from young children.

Food Safety
-- Bacteria are often present in raw foods.  Fully cook meats and poultry, and thoroughly wash raw vegetables and fruits.
-- Be sure to keep hot liquids and foods away from the edges of counters and tables, where they can be easily knocked over by a young child’s exploring hands.
-- Wash your hands frequently, and make sure your children do the same.
-- Never put a spoon used to taste food back into food without washing it.
-- Always keep raw foods and cooked foods separately, and use separate utensils when preparing them.
-- Always thaw meat in the refrigerator, never on the countertop.
-- Foods that require refrigeration should never be left at room temperature for more than two hours.

Happy Visiting
-- Clean up immediately after a holiday party.  A toddler could rise early and choke on leftover food or come in contact with alcohol or tobacco.
-- Remember that the homes you visit may not be childproofed.  Keep an eye out for danger spots.
-- Keep a list with all of the important phone numbers you or a baby-sitter are likely to need in case of an emergency. Include the police and fire department, your pediatrician and the national Poison Help Line, 1-800-222-1222. Laminating the list will prevent it from being torn or damaged by accidental spills.
-- Traveling, visiting family members, getting presents, shopping, etc., can all increase your child's stress levels. Trying to stick to your child's usual routines, including sleep schedules and timing of naps, can help you and your child enjoy the holidays and reduce stress.

Fireplaces
-- Before lighting any fire, remove all greens, boughs, papers, and other decorations from fireplace area.  Check to see that the flue is open.
-- Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from children.
-- Do not burn gift wrap paper in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.

Copyright 2010 - American Academy of Pediatrics 
 

Sandra Hare R.N.
MSAD # 70 School Nurse