Keeping Children Safe During the Holiday Season

The season of holidays is upon us! From Christmas to New Years, the next few weeks are packed full of cooking (and eating), gift-giving, celebrations, and possibly no small amount of stress. For many families, holiday time can also include traveling to visit friends or relatives. Safe Kids Pennsylvania (SKPA) wants every family to know the simple things you can do to stay safe over the next few months, so it’s one less thing you have to worry about:

Safety on the Road

Carbon Monoxide. If you are warming up a vehicle before using it, don’t forget to remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. It is extremely dangerous to leave a car, SUV or motorcycle engine running inside a garage due to the risk of CO poisoning. Also, be sure to check your car exhaust pipes to make sure they are clear of snow.

Seat Belts. Everybody needs their own restraint in the car, no matter their age. Make it a rule: everyone buckled, every ride, every time, whether it’s a long trip to visit family or around the block to the mall.

Car Seats and Winter Coats. We know you want your little ones to be warm, but please don’t buckle your child into a car seat while they are wearing a bulky coat. The puffiness of the coat creates extra space between the harness and your child, which puts your child at a greater risk of injury in the event of a crash. Instead, use a blanket to keep your child warm, or lay their jacket over them like a blanket once they’re safely secured.

Distracted Driving. Avoid distractions while driving. No text message is worth the risk of taking your eyes off the road. Watch out for small kids and other distracted drivers in parking lots that are busier than usual during the holidays. Additionally, if you have a teen driver in your household, remind them to be extra alert during the holidays when people are more distracted, and the weather can be tricky.

Safety while Cooking

Fire Safety. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in 2019, the three leading dates for home structure fires caused by cooking were: Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. Create and practice a home fire escape plan with two ways out of your house in case of a fire. This can be a fun activity for the whole family! The NFPA has resources to get you started at https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Staying-safe/Preparedness/Escape-planning.

No Distractions! In 2020, unattended cooking was the leading cause of cooking fires and casualties. Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop so you can keep an eye on the food and stay in the home when cooking food in the oven and check on it frequently.

Engage Kids in Cooking. Young children are almost always excited to be helpers! Let them do age-appropriate tasks in the kitchen and teach them to keep at least 3 feet away from the stove or oven. You can also use this season to teach older kids how to cook safely. Teach them never to leave the kitchen while they’re using the stove or oven, to use oven mitts or potholders when handling hot items and show them how to operate a microwave safely.

Safety at Home (Your Own, or Someone Else’s)

Sleep Safely. Your holiday travel plans might mean you’ll be spending the night somewhere other than home, so make sure everyone has a safe place to sleep. A firm mattress covered with a tight-fitting crib sheet is all you need for your baby to sleep well. If you’re worried about keeping your baby warm on those cold winter nights, try using a sleep sack (wearable blanket) and save the blankets for when baby is older. Additionally, remember to always have baby sleep alone, on their backs, in a crib (or similar flat item, like a bassinette or pack ‘n play).

Fire Safety. While cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and fire-related injuries according to the NFPA, holiday decorations (including trees, (electric) lights, and candles) also pose an increased fire risk during the winter months. Be sure to keep any real tree well hydrated and discard it when dry. Keep the area around candles and flames (including the stovetop) clear of anything flammable and blow out candles when leaving a room. If there’s a fireplace in the home, make sure it’s protected by a sturdy screen or gate. Remember that glass screens of gas fireplaces can reach 500 degrees Fahrenheit and can take a long time to cool down.

Carbon Monoxide. This is a great time to make sure your home, or another place you’re staying at, has a carbon monoxide alarm (which is different from a smoke detector) on every level, especially near sleeping areas, and keep them at least 15 feet away from fuel-burning appliances.

Safety with Toys

Consider the child’s age and ability when purchasing a toy or game. Take a moment to read the warning label and locate the suggested age range. This information is put on toy packaging to help ensure the safety of children. Small game pieces or accessories can be a choking hazard for children and pets. Toys that heat up may need parental supervision to avoid burns.

Pay attention to gifts needing batteries. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than 2,500 children ingest button batteries every year. Keep a close eye on batteries and gifts or cards that require them. These include remote controls, singing greeting cards, watches, hearing aids, children’s toys, key fobs, tea light candles, flashing holiday jewelry, decorations, and many other everyday items.

Consider toxicity. Children are known for putting things in their mouth. Ensure that any paints, crayons, markers, play clay, etc. are non-toxic. Make sure that there is no lead in the toys. Pay close attention to children when they are using these items to prevent ingestion.

Consider accessories that promote safety. Gifts of sports equipment should always be accompanied by protective gear. So, give a helmet with the skateboard, padding with the hockey equipment, a brightly colored jacket or top with new running shoes!

After play time is over, use a bin or container to store toys for next time. Make sure there are no holes or hinges that could catch little fingers. Also, ensure that all parts and pieces make their way into the bin before being put away. Older children may have received toys with smaller parts, so put them away when not in use. Loose Legos can be swallowed by children or pets or stepped on and cause falls.

Be informed about products. Look for labels that assure you the toys have passed a safety inspection – “ASTM” means the toy has met the American Society for Testing and Materials standards.