University of Virginia Health System

UVa Children's Hospital & SAFE KIDS
Helping to Make the Holiday's Safer

From holiday decorating to cooking, gift selection to winter sports safety, UVa Children's Hospital and SAFE KIDS are committed to keeping you up to date the latest and most helpful safety information.

Home Safety

• Decorations
• Choking and Poision Safety Tips

Cooking Safety

Guide to Safe Holiday Gift Selection

Winter Sports Safety

"Childproof" Your Home for the Holidays

With the rush of the holidays, safety in the home may not be the first thing on many parents’ minds.  After all, there are decorations that need to be put up and cookies still to be baked.  What parents may fail to realize is that when decorating is done, their work is not over.  From candles to Christmas trees, ensuring a festive, safe atmosphere, especially for children, will be the most important preparation of all. 

Residential fires are an increased threat during the holiday decorating season.  According to the U.S. Fire Administration, candles will be the source of about 1,600 home fires this winter holiday season.  Christmas trees also pose a potential fire risk if not cared for and properly maintained.  They cause about 200 fires during the holidays each year.

“Parents may get caught up in creating an unforgettable holiday environment for their families and unknowingly put their children at risk this holiday season by overlooking the potential dangers of their decorations,” says Emily Lyster, UVa coordinator for SAFE KIDS, Thomas Jefferson District.  “Whether you’re putting up a Christmas tree or lighting the Menorah or Kwanzaa candles, taking simple precautions can help make your holidays more joyful and safe.”

Lights

• Decorate your tree using only UL (Underwriters' Laboratories)-approved lights and cords.
• Inspect lights for exposed or frayed wires, loose connections or broken sockets.
• Do not overload extension cords.  Use no more than three strings of lights on one extension cord.
• Never run an electrical cord under a carpet.
• Be sure to secure electrical cords so that children cannot pull them and topple the tree.
• Turn off the tree lights when you go to bed, leave the house or otherwise leave the tree unattended.

Christmas Trees

• If you choose to buy a natural tree, look for a fresh one.  Fresh trees are less likely to catch fire than older trees.  (A safer option is to buy a fire-resistant  artificial tree.)
• Keep your tree in a container full of water and check it daily.
• Use a wide-based stand to make sure the tree is secure and will not fall over.
• Cover the tree basin with a tree skirt or blanket.
• Keep the tree away from heat sources such as fireplaces, radiators and heating vents.
• Cut back the lower branches to avoid eye injuries to small children.

Decorate your tree with children in mind.

• Do not put ornaments that are breakable, have small detachable parts or metal hooks or look like food or candy on the lower branches where small children can reach them.
• Make sure tree lights are hung out of reach of young children.
• Never burn Christmas tree branches, treated wood or even wrapping paper in your fireplace.
• Dispose of your tree promptly after the holidays.

Candles

• Avoid using candles but if you do use candles, make sure they are in a stable holder and placed where they cannot be easily knocked down.
• Do not leave lit candles unattended.
• Never put candles on a Christmas tree, and never leave the house with candles left burning.
• Do not place candles near draperies or anything that might easily catch fire.
• Keep candles out of children’s reach; keep matches and lighters out of sight and locked away.
• Teach children not to touch or play with candles, matches or lighters.

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Holiday Foods and Ornaments

Some foods and objects pose a choking hazard to young children, especially children under age 6.  To help prevent unintentional chokings during the holidays:

• Keep round, hard foods and candies such as candy cane pieces, mints, nuts and popcorn out of reach of young children.
• Keep small ornaments, tinsel, figurines and other decorations away from children’s reach.  Young children have a tendency to put everything in their mouths.

Poisons
While preparing your home for the holidays, be aware of seemingly innocent and unexpected forms of poisons.

• Install UL-approved carbon monoxide detectors in your home.
• When burning wood, open the flue in your fireplace to provide adequate ventilation. 
• The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning increases dramatically in the winter.  Proper ventilation of fuel-burning appliances reduces this risk.  Check these appliances annually and before you first use them in cold-weather months.
• Keep alcoholic drinks and their containers out of reach.  Holiday beverages such as eggnog laced with alcohol may be sweet and inviting to young children. 
• Do not leave alcoholic drinks unattended.  They can be harmful to children who consume them.
• Keep the common baking ingredients vanilla and almond extracts out of reach.  They contain high levels of alcohol and may be harmful to young children.
• Beware of fire salts used in fireplaces to produce colored flames.  They contain heavy metals and cause intense gastrointestinal irritation or vomiting if eaten.
• Keep poisonous plants out of reach.  Watch for holly and mistletoe berries that fall on the ground, because they are very poisonous if eaten.  Other poisonous holiday plants include amaryllis, azalea, boxwood, Christmas rose, Crown of Thorns, English ivy and Jerusalem cherry. Contrary to popular belief, poinsettias are not poisonous, but they can cause skin irritation and gastrointestinal distress.
• Avoid using artificial snow sprays to decorate.  These sprays can cause lung irritation if inhaled.
• Know the Poison Control Center’s national hotline number, 1-800-222-1222, and keep emergency medical service phone numbers by all telephones.
• Leave a phone number for babysitters so they can reach you if you go out to a holiday party.

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Cook Up Something Safe This Holiday Season

Baking gingerbread houses and cooking festive feasts with the kids close by requires more than the usual ingredients.  One cup of sugar and two tablespoons butter, combined with one cup of supervision and a pinch of patience, can be the right mix during these hectic times. As holiday goodies are being prepared, children are eager to lend a hand.  Whether they are decorating cookies or mixing salad dressing, children need close adult supervision at all times in and around the kitchen.

• Be sure you’ve taken essential safety steps, such as having a fire extinguisher nearby and posting emergency numbers near the phone, before introducing a child to cooking
• Never leave a child unattended in the kitchen. Close supervision is essential, whether children are helping an adult cook or simply watching.
• Never hold a child while cooking.
• Put pans on back burners and turn all pot handles toward the back of the stove.
• Use caution when heating food and liquids in the microwave.
  Supervise your child when he or she is near or using a microwave, and never let a young child (under age 10) remove heated items from the microwave.
• Make sure you and your children wear close-fitting clothing when cooking.
• Never leave cooking food unattended – it is the number-one cause of house fires.
• Place hot foods and liquids away from the edges of counters and tables.
• Pay particular attention to items sitting on tablecloths or placemats, so that young children cannot pull hot food or liquid down and scald themselves.
• Unplug appliance cords when not in use and keep them tied up, out of children’s reach.

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Age-Appropriate Tasks for Children

Since each child is different, it is important for parents and caregivers to consider the developmental levels and abilities of their children when it comes to assigning kitchen duties.

Generally, children under age 10 don’t fully understand what danger means and therefore should not handle the stove, electrical appliances, sharp utensils or hot dishes. Younger children can begin helping in the kitchen with basics, like washing vegetables and fruits or other tasks that don’t require sharp knives, appliances or heat.

Children over age 5 can:

• Stir ingredients together in a bowl.
• Rinse foods under cold water.
• Use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes in dough

Children over age 9 can:

• Use a butter knife or plastic knife to spread peanut butter or slice soft cheese. 

Children over age 10 can:

• Squeeze garlic from a garlic press.
• Use electrical kitchen appliances, such as a blender, food processor, electric mixer, microwave or toaster oven.

Children ages 12 and up can:

• Chop or slice with a paring knife.
• Turn stove burners on and off and select oven temperature.
• Flip pancakes on a hot griddle.
• Place a tray of cookies in the oven.
• Peel vegetables.
• Use an electric can opener.
• Shred cheese with a hand grater.
• Older children can take on more responsibility in the kitchen.

Children over age 14 can:

• Operate the stovetop without adult supervision.
• Drain cooked spaghetti into a colander.
• Remove a tray of cookies from the oven.
  

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Give the Gift of Safety This Holiday Season

From Tickle Me Elmo® to Tamagotchi® to Pokémon®, kids clamor for the approximately 3.8 billion toys and games sold each year in the United States, more than half during the holiday season alone. Although the majority of toys are safe, they can become dangerous if misused or if they fall into the hands of children who are too young to play with them. Last year’s scooter craze caught many parents off guard and they didn’t know to purchase important safety equipment as part of the gift. As a result, more than 26,000 children ages 14 and under were treated in hospital emergency rooms for scooter-related injuries in 2000.

Select Safe Toys

Each year, more than 118,000 children ages 14 and under are treated in hospital emergency rooms for toy-related injuries. Innocent-looking toys— such as marbles and balloons—present a choking hazard to small children. The Child Safety Protection Act, a federal toy labeling law, requires manufacturers to place warning labels on toys that pose a choking hazard to young children.

When selecting a toy for your child, avoid the following:

• Toys with small removable parts. The small parts are hazardous and can pose a choking hazard to children under age 3. Use a small parts tester (which can be purchased at a toy or baby specialty store) to measure the size of the toy or part.  If the piece fits entirely inside the tube, then it is considered a choking hazard.
• Toys with sharp points or edges. Children may unintentionally cut themselves or another person.
• Toys that produce loud noises. Toy guns and high-volume portable cassette recorders can permanently impair a child’s hearing.
• Propelled toy darts and other projectiles. Propelled toys can cause cuts or serious eye injuries.
• Toys with strings, straps or cords longer than 7 inches. Long strings and cords could wrap around a child’s neck and unintentionally strangle him or her.
• Electrical toys. Electrical toys are a potential burn hazard. Avoid toys with a heating element—batteries, electrical plugs—for children under age 8.
• Toys painted with lead paint. Exposure to lead can result in lead poisoning, causing serious damage to a child’s brain, kidneys and nervous system.
• Toy cap guns. Paper roll, strip or ring caps can be ignited by the slightest friction and cause serious burns.

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Follow Age Recommendations When Selecting Toys

Many toy-related injuries occur when parents overestimate their child’s ability to handle a toy designed for an older age group. When a label says, “this toy is not appropriate for children under 3,” it isn’t because the manufacturer thinks the items might be too tough for a 24-month-old to figure out, but because the toy is small (or has small parts) and poses a choking hazard. 

Infants under age 1:

In the first few months of their lives, children are immobile. Eventually, they learn to reach, roll over and sit up. In the second six months, children become more mobile and are at an increased risk for choking. The most suitable toys for the first year include activity quilts, stuffed animals without button noses and eyes, bath toys, soft dolls, baby swings, cloth books and squeaky toys.

Children ages 1 to 3:

At this age, children are curious and have little sense of danger. They like to climb, jump, throw and play rough-and-tumble games. The best toys for this age group are books, blocks, fit-together toys, balls, push-and-pull toys, pounding toys and shape toys.

Children ages 3 to 5:

As any parent of a preschooler can tell you, these children “think with their feet” and spend much of their time running. They like tests of physical strength and begin to develop skills such as the ability to ride a tricycle, finger control, and the ability to build with large blocks and construction materials. Toys that are most suitable for this age group include approved nontoxic art supplies, books, videos, musical instruments, and outdoor toys such as a baseball tee, slide or swing.

Children ages 5 to 9:

In the early part of this age group, children become creative and more physically active. They can write, engage in arts and crafts, and they are able to use simple mechanical toys such as cars and trains. Recommended toys include craft materials, jump ropes, puppets, books, electric trains (after age 8) and sports equipment. Remember, children ages 8 and up can begin to use electrical and battery-operated toys.  Check tape recorders and battery-operated toys regularly for loose or exposed wires. Don’t allow children to change batteries.

Children ages 9 to 14:

At this age, children enjoy team sports and games that require increased dexterity such as pick-up sticks, marbles and jacks. Strenuous physical activity is also popular for this age group. Children begin to develop hobbies and a strong interest in scientific activities. For these children, appropriate gifts include computers, microscopes, table and board games, and outdoor and team sports equipment. Ensure that older children’s toys are kept out of reach of younger children, for whom they may present a danger.

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Remember, a Gift is not Complete Unless the Proper Protective Gear is Included

Bicycles, in-line skates, scooters, skateboards and sleds are also popular gifts for the holidays. However, if children lack the proper protective gear or skills, injury and death can occur. In 1998, 203 children were killed in bicycle-related incidents, and injuries resulting from bicycles, scooters, skateboards, and in-line and roller skates accounted for well over half a million emergency room visits for children ages 14 and under.

• Include a helmet as part of the gift. A helmet is a necessity, not an accessory. Bicycle helmets have been shown to reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent and the risk of brain injury by as much as 88 percent. Make sure the helmet meets or exceeds the safety standards developed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, American National Standards Institute, the Snell Memorial Foundation, the American Society for Testing and Materials or the new federal standard.
• Buy retroreflective clothing, stickers or bike reflectors for an older child who will be riding or skating at dawn or dusk. Reflectors on the pedals and wheels also increase a child’s visibility.
• Give a horn or bell as a stocking stuffer. A horn or bell is essential for bicyclists to warn motorists and pedestrians of their presence.
• In addition to a helmet, include elbow pads and knee pads when giving in-line skates, scooters, roller skates or skateboards as gifts. Make sure to include wrist guards for in-line skates, roller skates and skateboards.
• Give in-line skating lessons from a professional instructor or a community recreation center. A class will provide instruction on how to skate properly and on proper skating etiquette.
• Buy a sled that is constructed sturdily and safely. Avoid equipment with sharp and jagged edges.

Parents and caregivers can download a free toy safety checklist, using Adobe Acrobat Reader, by clicking here.

In addition, a free brochure on toy safety is available by writing to info@safekids.org or: Toy Brochure, National SAFE KIDS Campaign, 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 1000, Washington, D.C. 20004.

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Stay Safe in Your Winter Wonderland

For many children, winter is not the end of outdoor fun. From sledding to skiing, snowmobiling to ice skating, children find lots to do when the snow starts to fall. Unfortunately, the cold season can also lead to tragedy.

The inviting snow draws children to ice-covered lakes and ski slopes each winter, regardless of the frigid temperatures and the risks.  Parents should watch their children closely, limit their outdoor playtime and make sure that they are dressed appropriately for the weather.

Winter Drowning

Most parents associate drowning with summer months, but the increased use of hot tubs and whirlpools as well as the danger of hidden bodies of water or weak ice make winter drownings a risk as well. To minimize drowning dangers, parents and caregivers should:

• Supervise children in or near a pool, hot tub or any open body of water.
• Make sure pools and spas are secure. If you have a pool or spa, install four-sided isolation fencing that is at least 5 feet high. The fence should have a self-closing and self-latching gate. Do not use the exterior of the house as one side of the fence.
• Allow children to skate only on ponds or lakes that have been approved for skating .

Frostbite

Exposure to cold without adequate protection can result in frostbite. Parents can protect their children by following these precautions:

• Dress children warmly. Several thin layers will help keep children dry as well as warm. Clothing should consist of thermal long johns, turtlenecks, one or two shirts, pants, sweater, coat, warm socks, boots, gloves or mittens, and a hat.
• Set reasonable time limits on outdoor play. Call children in periodically to warm up with drinks such as hot chocolate.
• When possible, avoid taking infants outdoors when it is colder than 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Infants lose body heat quickly.

If a child complains of numbness or pain in the fingers, toes, nose, cheeks or ears while playing in the snow, or if his skin is blistered, hard to the touch or glossy, be alerted to the possibility of frostbite and take the following steps:

• Take the child indoors.
• Call a doctor.
• Tell the child to wiggle the affected body part(s) to increase blood supply to that area.
• Warm the frozen part(s) against the body. Hold fingers to the chest, for example.
• Immerse frozen part(s) in warm, not hot, water. Frozen tissue is fragile and can be damaged easily. Avoid warming with high heat from radiators, fireplaces or stoves, and avoid rubbing or breaking blisters.

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Pedestrian Safety

Slippery driveways and sidewalks can be particularly hazardous in the winter. Keep them well shoveled, and apply materials such as rock salt or sand to improve traction.

• Make sure that children under age 10 do not cross streets alone, and make sure children wear appropriate shoes and brightly colored (not white) clothing while walking in snowy conditions.

• Use retroreflective clothing or stickers for maximum protection, especially at dawn and dusk.

Winter Sports and Activities

Parents and caregivers should inspect equipment and the environment for possible hazards before children engage in winter activities such as sledding, ice skating and skiing. Remind children not to push, shove or roughhouse while engaging in sports, and tell them always to wait their turn.

Ice Skating

In 1999, more than 16,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in emergency rooms for injuries related to ice skating. But with extra care, even children as young as age 4, as long as they are steady walkers, can enjoy the sport. Allow children to skate only on approved surfaces. Check for signs posted by local police or recreation departments, or call your local police department to find out which areas have been approved. Children should be taught to:

• Skate in the same direction as the crowd.

• Avoid darting across the ice.

• Never skate alone.

• Never go out on ice that an adult has not approved.

• Throw away chewing gum or candy before skating onto the ice.

• If a child falls through the ice, he should stretch his arms over the ice and kick as if swimming, in an attempt to crawl back onto the solid ice. 

Sledding

More than 14,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in emergency rooms in 1999 for injuries related to sledding. Parents and caregivers should remember the following tips:

• Make sure terrain is free of obstacles and far from traffic. Children should sled on packed snow (not ice) that is free of debris. Check carefully for snow-covered hazards such as rocks, tree limbs and stumps that could endanger sledders or skiers.

• Use equipment that is sturdy and safely constructed. Avoid equipment with sharp and jagged edges.

• Look for energy absorbing pads on sled seats.

• Examine handholds on sleds to be sure they are secure.

• Ensure sleds and toboggans have easy steering, non-jamming devices.

  Parents should remind children to:

• Sled only on terrain that is free of obstacles.

• Make sure the bottom of the slope is far from streets and traffic.

• Always use a sled with a steering mechanism. Avoid makeshift sleds.

• Avoid lying flat on the sled while riding down hill. Always sit up with feet forward – lying flat increases the chance of head and abdominal injuries.

• Never ride in a sled that is being pulled by a motorized vehicle .

• Make sure the number of children riding on the sled does not exceed the manufacturer's recommendations.

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Snow Skiing and Snowboarding

In 1999, more than 16,300 children ages 5 to 14 visited emergency rooms for snow skiing-related injuries and more than 19,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated for snowboarding-related injuries. But with a few safety precautions, skiing and snowboarding are sports that even young children can enjoy. Parents should make sure children follow these suggested precautions:

• Enroll in at least one skiing/snowboarding lesson to start off on the right track.

• Use caution when entering and exiting the ski lift.

• Do not ski out of control or go too fast.

• Be aware of other people on the slope.

• Wear a ski helmet and eye protection.

• Wear sun protection even on cloudy days.

• Never ski alone.Young children should always be supervised by an adult.

Snowmobiling

Snowmobiles can weigh up to 600 pounds and travel at speeds in excess of 90 mph. Head injuries are the leading cause of snowmobile-related deaths. In 1999, nearly 1,500 children ages 14 and under were treated in emergency rooms for snowmobile-related injuries. The American Academy of Pediatrics has stated that operating snowmobiles is inappropriate for children under age 16. If a child is riding as a passenger on a snowmobile, be sure he is wearing an approved helmet. Children ages 5 and under should never ride on snowmobiles.