Spartan Nurse Monthly: Holiday Joy and Safety
December 11, 2017
The holiday is a time for baking, a time for family and friends, and a time for joy! For many, it is also a time for giving presents. Before celebrating, here are some home safety issues to think about and be aware of.
- Look at your home from a child's point of view. Get down on your hands and knees and look for loose items such as pills, beads, and buttons -- anything that children can swallow. Do you have loose cords that can be pulled from an iron, hair curler, coffee makers, or anything potentially hazards? Some even put the Christmas tree behind baby gates in order to keep the little ones away.
- Keep children out of the kitchen to avoid spills and burns. The kitchen becomes a gathering place and many times we don't look to see who is behind or under us when moving a hot pot of boiling water from the stove. Also be cautious when opening oven doors to check on the food, as toddlers often mimic what you do and may try look in the oven too. They might touch the hot oven door causing a burn or even trip due to their imbalance. Do not cook with a little one on your hip as splash burns can occur while stirring hot liquids. There also can be many toxic cleaning products in the kitchens cupboards, make sure they are temporarily relocated or lock your cupboards.
- Before purchasing a gift, make sure it is age appropriate. Some toys can be a choking hazard to underage children. Choking hazards include items that are small enough where a child can put it in their mouths. When in doubt, try the toilet paper dispenser roll test: if the item can fall through the tube, then it is a potential choking hazard. These items can be pieces of a toy that can break off, or pieces off a toy you put together.
For older children and young adults, think of items to keep them safe and healthy. Safety can mean physical safety such as self-defense. Healthy can mean overall emotional wellness or being ill. Give a gas card for when a loved one is homesick so they can drive home, or make a basket with their favorite feel-better foods and remedies (chicken noodle or tomato soup, crackers, etc.) for when they are feeling ill.
Remember that the best gift you can ever give is time. Put down the cell phone and make memories for all to cherish in the years to come.
Happy Holidays!
Rhonda Conner-Warren
PhD, RN, CPNP-PC
Pediatric Nurse Practicioner
Resources and References:
https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/news-features-and-safety-tips/Documents/toy_safety_2011.pdf
https://www.safekids.org/safetytips/field_risks/toy-safety
http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/News/Consumer%20Briefs/toy-safety.pdf
http://dodoburd.com/gifts-for-college-students
