Safety

Keeping Children Safe During the Holiday Season

November 19, 2022

As the year winds down, the holiday season in the United States winds up. It is a time of increased family interactions, travel, gatherings, and more. It is also a time of increased safety hazards for young children. These hazards can be broken down into major groups, which we will discuss below. 

Decorations

  • Do not leave candles unattended. 
  • Artificial trees should be fire resistant. 
  • Avoid sharp or fragile decorations in homes with small, curious children. Avoid any decorations with small, detachable pieces that could be placed in a child’s mouth. 
  • Keep poisonous holiday plants out of reach of children. These include mistletoe and holly berries. 
  • When decorating outdoors, only use lights that have been certified for outdoor use. 
  • Make sure decorations that require electricity do not have frayed cords or wires.

Food preparation

  • Wash your hands if you are involved in food preparation.
  • Make sure to fully cook meats. Do not leave foods that require refrigeration out for more than 2 hours. 
  • Make sure hot dishes are placed back from counter edges to avoid burns from the dish or from contents falling on a child. 
  • Turn pan handles away from the front of the stove, so that children cannot reach them and pull hot food or liquids down on themselves. 
  • Watch out for children nearby before opening the oven door
  • Keep alcohol out of reach
  • Check to be sure your fire extinguisher is working and in easy reach.

Travel

  • Bring appropriate car seats or boosters if you will be traveling in a car that is not your own. 
  • Remember that homes you visit may not be child-proofed. Keep a careful eye on young children in other people’s homes. 
  • Keep an eye (and maybe a hand) on young children in busy environments such as airports, bus stations, malls, and sporting events. 
  • Make sure your child is up to date with vaccinations, as there will be increased exposure to infectious disease in different environments. Check the CDC’s travel section for international travel recommendations. 
  • Pack weather-appropriate clothing to avoid cold-weather injury. 

General precautions

  • Use grates or other barriers to prevent access to fireplaces, whether traditional wood-burning or glass-fronted (the glass can become so hot as to cause second or third degree burns if touched).
  • Watch for choking hazards with small children. Remember, they will put ANYTHING in their mouths!
  • For older children, review the fire safety plan for your family. 

Final thoughts

The holidays can be a wonderful time spent with family and friends, and it would be a terrible thing to have this time of year marred by a preventable accident. Take measures to keep your child safe, and enjoy the season together without extra worry. 

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