It’s that time of the year again: beautiful lights being strung, Christmas trees being sold, big family meals and giving thanks. These joyous celebrations should remain lighthearted and fun, however, accidents happen and all too often it’s an incident that could have been prevented.
It’s that time of the year again: beautiful lights being strung, Christmas trees being sold, big family meals and giving thanks. These joyous celebrations should remain lighthearted and fun, however, accidents happen and all too often it’s an incident that could have been prevented.
The pediatricians at AGC Pediatrics want to share these useful tips so you and your little ones stay safe this holiday season.
While colorful plants are a great way to accessorize for your holiday parties, many of them can cause severe reactions and even death. Holly berries, poinsettia, mistletoe, lilies, and Christmas tree needles (in excess) can all cause illness or death to small children and animals.
Before deciding which plants you want to decorate with this year, research any warnings associated with the plant and make sure they are not hazardous to children. Be sure to explain to your children why these plants are not safe for them to eat or put in their mouth for any reason.
Big birds and decadent trays of food go hand-in-hand with the holidays. The germs and bacteria that are present in raw meat and seafood can grow and multiply extremely fast at room temperature.
These germs can spread to your hands, things you touch or other items that are placed on the counter. Wash hands and surfaces that have been exposed to any raw meat with an antibacterial soap.
The tastiness of raw cookie dough is something most people are hard-pressed to avoid, however, it can cause severe illness. The raw eggs in cookie dough may contain salmonella and even when they’re pasteurized, other ingredients may be contaminated with E. coli or another type of pathogen. Most cases of salmonella poisoning occur in children under the age of 15.
We can all go a little overboard with Christmas lights and electric candles, but be sure not to plug in more than three strands of lights per extension cord. Not only is this a fire hazard, adults and children alike can trip and hurt themselves.
To prevent multiple strand lights from overheating, consider using a timer that will automatically turn your Christmas lights off before you go to sleep or leave the house.
Buy a fresh Christmas tree and remove it after the needles start to dry out and drop (usually four weeks). When the needles of the tree begin to dry out, so do the branches. This dry material can catch fire from bulbs and other heat sources. Also, keeping your tree well-watered daily will prolong its life.
Curious children may be tempted to take an ornament and put it in their mouths. Ornaments that are small or composed of tiny pieces are potential choking hazards to children and animals. Be sure to place small, fragile, or tempting ornaments on higher branches where children cannot reach.
Holidays are the perfect time for snacking or grazing on platters and food dishes throughout the day. We can often forget how long food has been sitting out, making adults and children susceptible to food poisoning.
Food poisoning occurs when bacteria in food is ingested. Bacteria begins forming within two hours after food has been cooked; refrigerating or freezing leftovers stops the process of bacteria multiplying. Small children are more likely to get food poisoning than most adults.
Sometimes having an extra heat source is nice, whether it be a fire in the fireplace or an electrical space heater. Nevertheless, having these sources of heat in close proximity to Christmas trees or flammable decorating materials can cause fires.
Children cannot always gauge what is a safe distance for these items. There should be at least 3 feet of space between heat sources and other items.
The US Fire Administration found that structure fires increase during the winter months. Smoke detectors should be checked monthly, but open flames, heating sources, and combustible décor increase the likelihood of fires.
A simple test of your smoke alarm and check of the batteries can save your home and family should a fire occur during the holiday season.
We hope your family stays happy, healthy and safe this holiday season. To schedule an appointment, contact one of our AGC Pediatrics locations in the Calhoun, Cartersville, Ellijay, Sonoraville, Rockmart, Woodstock, Alpharetta, Canton, or Holly Springs communities.
We also offer preregistering for new patients through our online patient portal. Receive faster service and make appointments on the go using a laptop, smartphone or tablet.
AGC Pediatrics is a faith-based Christian organization serving all of God’s children since 2006.
