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Ask Dr. Sue
HOLIDAY SAFETY AND KIDS
Dear Dr. Sue,
A few years ago my youngest grandson (a baby at the
time) bit into one of the glass globes on the Christmas
tree and cut his tongue, and probably swallowed some of
it. He ended up being fine, but he sure scared us,
and Christmas Eve wasn't much fun that year. Will
you please remind people of the ways small children can
get into trouble during the holiday season?
Thanks,
Concerned Grandma
Dear Grandma,
Thank you for bringing up an important safety topic.
There are a number of dangers around the house at this
season that many people don't think about.
First of all, the holiday season is likely to be a
little harried and rushed, and accidents are most common
when adults are distracted. Everyday hazards like
falls and cuts are therefore more likely at this time of
year. Burns are more likely than usual, with
several people opening and closing an oven that may not
see much action the rest of the year, and with several
pots apt to be simmering on the stove. While the
cooking is going on, it's a good idea to assign one
person to supervise the small children in another room.
Putting up gates between the kitchen and the rest of the
house is also smart. Turn the handles of all pots
to the rear of the stove, just like you do the rest of
the year. (The cooks in the family who don't have small
children may forget to do this, and you should do it for
them.)
Remember that adult guests may have medicines in their
purses, or even their pockets. Hang up coats and
put all purses or backpacks out of reach of little
fingers.
Holiday decor poses its own dangers:
Some plants are poisonous. The first one that may
come to mind, the poinsettia plant, actually is not
poisonous, but like all plants can be choked on if a
piece is pulled off. If you must have one, put it
out of reach. Mistletoe berries, stems and leaves
are quite dangerous: don't use these if you have small
children. Holly berries can cause vomiting and
diarrhea. The Jerusalem cherry plant is extremely
dangerous: read labels on any plant you consider buying
or that is given to you and avoid this plant entirely.
Christmas decorations, as you point out, can be
hazardous, too. Many children have bitten into
glass bulbs, just like your grandson. Plastic
cutouts that stick to windows can fall down and be
choked on. Fake snow can cause choking if
ingested, and the spray with which it is applied can
cause lung and throat irritation. Candle-shaped
lights with bubbling liquid inside are often objects of
intense interest for small children, who may try to
break them open and drink their contents. Icicles
(tinsel) are easy for little ones to get their hands on,
since many strands fall from the tree. It can
easily be swallowed, and can obstruct the airway, the
esophagus or the intestinal tract if enough is
swallowed. Angel hair, which is made from spun
glass, is extremely irritating to the skin, and can
cause damage to any more delicate surface it contacts,
including eyes, mouth and intestine.
It is very important to unplug your Christmas lights
EVERY NIGHT before you go to bed. Yes, the lights
look pretty when you first get up, but many families
lose their lives due to house fires at this time of
year, and the Christmas tree is often the source.
Never leave candles burning when you are not directly
supervising them. Remember to keep that tree moist
by filling the tree stand daily. Start with the freshest
tree possible. (Try to pull needles from the
branches; it should be difficult if the tree is fresh.)
Put your tree in a spot away from any heat sources.
Make sure that it stands firmly in its stand so it can't
easily be tipped over.
Christmas lights can also be a fire hazard. It is
important to use only lights that are safety tested
(they should say something like UL or ETL/ITSNA tested).
Throw out any set of lights if you see a broken or
cracked socket, damaged wire or any loose connections.
Never put electric lights on a metallic tree, as they
can cause electrocution. If you put lights
outdoors, use only lights that specifically say they are
certified for outdoor use. The Consumer Product
Safety Commission reminds consumers to plug all outdoor
lights into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)
protected receptacle or a portable GFCI.
If you have a fireplace, have it inspected before having
a fire. (Be honest, now; how long has it been
since you've had that chimney cleaned? Don't put
it off another day!) Never burn Christmas wrap in
the fireplace. Buy a carbon monoxide monitor now,
if you don't already have one.
If any holiday party involves alcohol, empty all glasses
before leaving them unattended. It takes very
little alcohol to cause poisoning in a small child.
Don't serve any snacks containing nuts or popcorn if
your child is less than three.
Buy only toys approved for your child's age. Your
child may be capable of operating toys meant for older
children, but is still at risk from choking on small
parts. Even if you are buying a toy for an older
child, remember that a younger sibling will be likely to
find any small parts. If you must buy toys with
small parts for your older child, make a strict rule
about where they can be used, and take them away if he
can't follow that rule.
It should go without saying that you must not drive
under the influence of alcohol or drugs at any time, and
that your child must be securely fastened into an
appropriate car seat or booster seat any time he travels
in a vehicle. Be especially alert if you drive on
Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve, as there may be more
impaired drivers on the road than usual on those nights.
Drive defensively.
Don't let your holiday season be sidelined by a trip to
the Emergency Department, or worse. Please keep
children safe during the holidays and every day.
 
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