Kaiser Permanente Doc Helps Keep Kids Safe At Holidays

The holiday season can be one of the happiest times of the year for families, but unfortunately, without proper planning, it can also be one of the most dangerous.

"So many things can go wrong at this time of year," says Dr. Stephen Johnson, director of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. "Many holiday decorations and foods can prove extremely dangerous for young children."

Dr. Johnson says that risks to children increase when families celebrate the holidays away from home. "Young children are naturally curious. If you're celebrating at someone else's home, you need to keep your child away from potential dangers."

To ensure that you and your family have a happy and accident free holiday season, Dr. Johnson offers the following safety precautions:

• Walk through the house or hotel room looking from your child's vantage-point. Look to see if a medicine cabinet can be easily reached, or whether or not cleaning supplies or other poisonous chemicals are within reach.
• Keep space heaters away from children, Christmas trees, presents and curtains and anything flammable. Also, make sure that heaters are turned off when you leave home.
• Always turn tree lights off before going to bed or leaving home.
• When visiting the home of a friend or relative, make sure that one parent is always watching a young child. Take shifts if necessary, and consider bringing a portable crib or childproof gate if you're planning to stay for any length of time.
• Keep holiday food items such as nuts and hard candies away from young children. These foods can cause them to choke.
• Holiday plants such as poinsettias and mistletoe can also prove toxic to children if ingested.
• Keep young children away from Christmas trees. "Toddlers love to put everything in their mouth," says Dr. Johnson. "I've seen children who have received facial burns from accidentally teething on Christmas tree lights, or who have received facial cuts from putting ornaments in their mouths."
• Always have a designated driver and watch your alcohol intake during the holidays. Auto accidents are the leading cause of death in young children.
• Bring along a favorite toy or video to keep children occupied.
• Make sure that medications and cleaning solvents are kept out of reach. "Older people often have medications with non-childproof caps," says Dr. Johnson. "If you're visiting grandma's house for the holidays, make sure that all medications are kept away from kids. Certain prescriptions such as heart medications are very toxic."
• Use a surge protector for Christmas tree lights. This will prevent electrical burns and keeps the plug from exploding in someone's hand.
• Keep Christmas trees watered and be careful of lights overheating. Never use candles on Christmas trees.
• Travel with easy-to-use childproofing tools, such as plugs for electric outlets and latches for cabinets.

"Parents should remember that the homes of friends and relatives and hotels aren't usually childproofed," said Johnson. "It's easy to for parents' to let down their guard when they're around a lot of friends and family."