So, yesterday my friend calls to ask me if our Christmas tree was up and decorated. (It is.) Then, she proceeded to tell me that after spending three hours trimming her family’s 7-foot Douglas fir the entire thing came crashing down… on her 16-month-old son.
Fortunately, he didn’t suffer any major injuries, but since the fall the tree has been banished to the corner of the living room and is trapped behind a wall of child safety gates. Not that it really needs the protection given that her son is now deathly afraid of the fir.
My pal’s anecdote serves as a reminder that Christmas cheer can come to a grinding halt in the blink of an eye. Holiday hazards abound this time of year, but fortunately, there are ways you can protect your children from them.
Here are some useful tips:
Know Your Holiday Foliage. Mistletoe berries can be toxic to your child. If eaten, mistletoe can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and can even be fatal. In addition, while poinsettias aren’t poisonous, many other holiday-themed plants are, including holly, Jerusalem cherry, boxwood and various species of yew, so keep them out of reach of children.
Know Your Tree. Studies show that older artificial trees and those made in China often contain lead. If you opt to erect an artificial tree, buy a new one and check the packaging. Unfortunately, real trees aren’t problem-free, so you’ll need to be cautious with them as well. Christmas tree needles can cause painful cuts in a child’s mouth and throat if swallowed. It’s a good idea to teach your children not to put needles in their mouth. However, if you child is too young to understand the warning, then clean up loose needles on daily basis. (Tip: Watering your tree every day will also help keep the needles from falling.)
Be Careful with Christmas Lights. Strands of Christmas lights can be choking hazards. Also, studies show that most Christmas lights are coated with plastic that contains lead. To keep your children safe, do not rig the lower branches of your Christmas tree with lights.
Holiday Baking Hazards. Kids love to help out with holiday baking, but some ingredients can lead to serious health concerns. Vanilla and almond extracts contain ethanol, which if ingested can cause dilated pupils, flushed skin, gastrointestinal distress, hypothermia, and severe respiratory problems. Studies show vanilla extract can be harmful even in small doses, as it contains up to 70 percent ethanol by volume. If your child ingests pure vanilla extract, call 911 immediately.
Image by Laura Bittner Flickr
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