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Holiday Safety Check
 Holiday
tree lights offer a bright, colorful array to a room. But those little
bulbs can be a danger to a child. The time of the year is almost upon us
when we need to use extra precautions in ensuring the safety of our homes.
Young children are unaware of dangers surrounding them. It is the
responsibility of the parent to protect little ones. Iowa State University
Extension offers several tips on home safety.
Babies are curious about everything. They explore by climbing, touching
and pulling things down that they are not tall enough to see. Help prevent
those little people from getting hurt by keeping holiday tree lights,
lamps that can tip over, uncovered electrical outlets and matches out of
their reach.
A parent should watch out for hazards all around the home. Parents have
learned from experience where dangers are. Young children have not had
this experience. Hazards in the home could be breakable glass, marbles and
other tiny toys, plastic bags, plastic toys that break with sharp edges
and scissors and other sewing items.
Is your house and family safe? Here are some helpful tips to find if the
family is safe:
- Are electrical sockets covered and
furniture placed so that little fingers cannot reach them?
- Does the family buckle up during every
car ride?
- Do kids under 10 cross streets with an
adult?
- Are kids always supervised in or near
water, including the bathtub?
- Is the home's smoke detector working and
are the batteries checked monthly?
- Is the water heater set lower than 120
degrees to prevent scalding burns?
- If guns are in the home, are they kept
unloaded and locked away?
- Are kids protected against falls from
windows, stairs, furniture and playground equipment?
- Are household cleaners, medicines and
vitamins stored out of the reach of young kids?
- Does the home have emergency numbers
near the telephone and first aid supplies?
The holiday season is a time of fun and memories; do not let it be
destroyed by unsafe practices.
Reprinted with permission from the National Network for Child Care - NNCC.
Authors:
Lesia Oesterreich
Extension Family Life Specialist
Treva Blumenshine
Extension Communication Systems
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