Robyn Strosaker, MD Avoid Holiday Wrappings and Trappings to Stay Safe he holidays are a time to celebrate – a time to decorate your house with bright lights and glowing candles. All around the world, people invest time and money to make sure their decorations look just right to create a festive air at home. Children particularly love this time of year, with its joyful holiday music, sparkly tree trimming and brightly-colored cards. Before you get caught up in the hustle and bustle, take a moment to make sure your family will have an injury-free holiday season. Many of the traditional holiday trappings, include trees and wrapping paper, as well as mistletoe and poinsettias can pose health threats to kids and pets. You have to remember that the wrappings and trappings of the season may be beautiful – but they can also be dangerous. Pay attention and you’ll avoid visits to the emergency room and prevent fires that can result from holiday lighting, greenery and gift wrap. Each year many children are injured during the holiday season, and a lot of those injuries could have been prevented. “The holidays are supposed to be a happy time spent with family and friends,” says Robyn Strosaker, MD, Director of University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital Acute Care Network. “The last thing you want to worry about is something happening to your child. If you take some basic precautions, you can make sure your whole family remains safe and injury-free throughout the holiday season.” Here are some simple guidelines to help you enjoy an injury-free holiday: • Don't overload extension cords or wall outlets. Never run electrical cords under carpets, cushions, or anywhere else they might be easily crushed or broken. • Do not burn wrapping paper and boxes in the fireplace. They ignite rapidly and can cause flash fires or create sparks that could ignite nearby combustibles and sometimes create toxic fumes. • Unplug all lighting when you leave the house or at bedtime. Make sure you grip the plug – never pull it from the wall by yanking the cord. • Don't use indoor lights outside. Hang outdoor lights with insulated staples and light hooks – don’t use nails or tacks. Hanging bulbs downward will keep moisture out of sockets. • Decorate the tree with your kids in mind. Keep ornaments that are breakable, have small parts that could become choking hazards or have metal hooks toward the top of the tree. • Always use the proper step ladder. Don't let your children see you standing on chairs or other furniture to avoid any future bad habits. • Make sure light sets are fully intact and there are no exposed or frayed wires, loose connections or broken sockets. • Keep walking paths clear both indoors and out so that older adults and kids do not trip on decorations, wrapping paper, toys, etc. • Keep candles out of reach of children. • Don't burn candles near trees, curtains or any other flammable items. Be extra careful when using candles on tablecloths which could be easily disrupted. • When choosing toys for infants or small children, avoid small parts that can be pulled or broken off and become a potential choking hazard (swallowing button batteries is not an uncommon problem.) Holiday safety is an important topic to keep in mind from late November into the middle of January, as loved ones get together and travel more frequently. Dr. Strosaker is board-certified in pediatrics. Her work at University Hospital Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital ensures the delivery of safe, quality, standardized care across the pediatric emergency departments and urgent care locations. If you would like to be seen by a UH pediatrician, call 216-UH4-KIDS (216-844-5437) to schedule an appointment. T “The last thing you want to worry about is something happening to your child. If you take some basic precautions, you can make sure your whole family remains safe and injury-free throughout the holiday season.” December 2015 n Beachwood Buzz 49