Keeping Children Safe During The Holidays

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

it’s easy to forget that the holidays can hold special risks for kids. To help you and your young friends and family have a safer holiday season, here are a few safety tips from the experts at the Electrical Safety Foundation International: *Keep young holiday visitors safe by preparing your home before they arrive. eIf your homeis not already “childproof,” install tamper-resistant receptacles or use safety covers on all unused electrical outlets, including on extension cords. eStore breakables, candles, matches and other potentially dangerous items in inaccessible or locked areas. *Don’t forget to put away small items, such as buttons or coins, which can be choking hazards. *Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairways to keep babies and toddlerssafe. Consider turning your water heater down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to reduce the risk of scalding. *Do not use space heaters in rooms where children will be unsupervised. Adult supervision is required in the kitchen when something is cooking or when a range or stove is within reach. Keep children at least three feet away from cooking appliances. *Decorations are not toys. Never allow children to play with electrical decorations or cords. Place cords out of reach of small children. Avoid putting Christmas tree iStockphoto.com/hartphotography1 Store breakables, candles, matches and other potentially dangerous items in inaccessible or locked areas. lights, ornaments, metal hooks and other small decorations near the groundor on the lower limbs, where they may be reached by youngchildren. *In homes with small chil- dren, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable. *Keep matches, lighters and candle displays out of reach of children. The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) is dedicated to promoting electrical safety in the home, school and workplace. ESFI sponsors National Electrical Safety Month each May, and engages in public education campaigns throughout the year to preventelectrical fires, injuries andfatalities. To learn more about holiday safety, visit ESFI’s seasonal website at www.holidaysafety.org.

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