Hints for a Hazard-free Holiday By Shirley Raye Redmond

The holiday season should be a happy time filled with joy and anticipation for everyone. However, the season can also be a potentially dangerous one—especially for children and even pets. Be sure to observe the following precautions so you can help prevent an unplanned (and unpleasant) visit to the emergency room.

1. Keep mistletoe, poinsettias, holly berries and other poisonous plants out of reach of small children. If a youngster should accidentally swallow even a small portion, call your local poison control center.
   
   
   
   
2. Place holiday candles in proper candleholders so that they will not easily tip over. Keep them away from high traffic areas and out of reach of small, curious hands and swishing pet tails.
3. Keep candy dishes and nut bowls out of reach of toddlers. Small children often choke on peanuts and popcorn and bits of hard candy. Be prepared to perform the Heimlich maneuver just in case.
   
4. Read medication labels carefully before treating a child’s upset tummy. Pepto-Bismol, Alka-Seltzer and other products can cause serious side effects, such as Reye Syndrome, in kids and teens, who may also have flu symptoms or the chicken pox.
   
5. Don’t block doorways and other exits when rearranging furniture to accommodate the Christmas tree and extra houseguests. Make note of every possible means of escape should a house fire occur and make them easily accessible.
6. Using an artificial tree? Be sure you check to see how long it is guaranteed to be fire-resistant. If you’ve had the tree for quite some time, consider using only non-electrical ornaments so you don’t run the risk of a tree fire. Is the tree metal? Don’t decorate with electric lights. Metal conducts electricity and someone could easily be electrocuted if the lights malfunction.
7. Prevent the wires in your walls from overheating by not taxing your electrical outlets with too many extension cords and socket extenders. The walls may overheat and your home may catch on fire. You may even blow out all the fuses or trip the circuit breaker in your house like I did one year. Although our electricity was, the clothes dryer was damaged and new fuses and heating element had to be ordered—a costly repair.

Keep these seasonal safety tips in mind and have a blessed Christmas and joyous New Year.


An award-winning writer and frequent conference speaker, Shirley Raye Redmond is the author of three inspirational novels, PRUDENCE PURSUED, VIPER’S NEST, and AMANDA’S BEAU, as well as two dozen children’s books, including LEWIS & CLARK: A PRAIRIE DOG FOR THE PRESIDENT (Random House), which was a Children’s Book of the Month Club selection. Shirley Raye holds an M.A. in literature and teaches through the Institute of Children’s Literature. She has been married to her husband Bill for over forty years. They live in New Mexico and are blessed with two grown children and three adorable grandchildren. Touch bases at shirleyrayeredmond.com or Facebook.