Children & Holiday Safety

The holidays are an exciting time of year for kids, and to help ensure they have a safe holiday season, here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Trees

When buying an artificial tree, make sure it's fire resistant. Or, if it's a live tree, make sure it's still fresh. When putting the tree up in your house, make sure it's not covering (or near) heaters, and keep the tree stand full of water to prevent it from drying out.

Lights

Check all the tree lights and make sure there are no frayed wires or broken or loose connections. Make sure you never use electric lights on a metallic tree, and always read the light labels. Make sure you turn off all lights before going to bed, or before leaving your house.

Decorations

Use non-combustible or flame-resistant materials on both artificial and real trees. Make sure to take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable. Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation, and remove all wrapping papers after gifts are open.

Fireplaces

Before lighting any fire, remove all greens and paper from the fireplace area. Do not burn gift wrap paper in the fireplace and be cautious if you're using fire salts. You may want to use a screen or grate to keep children away from the flame.

Listen in as Corinn Cross, MD, shares the top safety tips from the AAP and easy ways you can keep your family safe during the holidays.