Its
December…Welcome to the hustle and bustle of the holidays! While it may be the ‘Most Wonderful Time of
the Year’, it can also be the busiest and most stressful. Our to-do lists for gift shopping and
wrapping, card sending, decorating and cooking are never ending. Sometimes
safety falls to the bottom of our list in our efforts to make everything shiny
and bright. So here are some tips for keeping our lives holly and jolly this
time of year!
Holiday
Decorations:
- Trimming the tree should always be a fun family occasion - just make sure you hang your breakable/glass ornaments at the top of the tree and leave lots of room at the bottom for your children to decorate with their favorite, non-breakable ornaments!
- Poinsettias and mistletoe can be beautiful additions to your holiday home décor, but they can also be dangerous to pets and children. So make sure to keep those pretty plants out of reach from little hands and paws!
Preventing
Fires:
- Make sure your Christmas tree and other decorative lights are only plugged in when you are home and awake. As tempting as it is to leave all your indoor lights on when you’re not home or while you’re sleeping, the risk of fire is not worth it.
- If you have a real tree, check the water daily so it stays healthy and doesn’t dry out, which can spark fires with your lights.
- Keep your candles a safe distance away from your tree, walls and out of the reach of children. Always blow them out before you go to sleep or leave the house.
Present
Time:
- There are so many choices when it comes to gifts for the children in our lives. When choosing toys for infants or small children avoid those that have small or removable pieces or strings that could become a choking hazard (especially in the chaos of Christmas Morning)!
- Be aware of small, coin-sized lithium batteries that may come with older children’s toys and don’t let them end up in the hands or mouths of younger children!
Most importantly…enjoy this time of year! Make sure
you’re taking time to slow down and think through what you are doing. Keep a
to-do list on hand to help keep track of where you are in the holiday hustle, remember
to smile and to always try to pass on a little holiday cheer wherever you go!😀
Happy Holidays,
Jessica Mathews
Children’s Services Program Specialist
Health Care Services Division
