Holiday Hazards
They say Christmas is for kids. And that is true. But it can also be a dangerous time of year for the little ones. News Specialist Shannon Ogden explains some of the dangers in your home.
Okay, chocolate's not a huge danger for kids, but there's plenty of danger lurking around almost every decorated house.
Candles within reach.
Ornaments kids can choke on.
Some of the most common Christmastime hazards-- tinsel and angel hair. Both are very irritating to childrens' skin.
Perfume is a popular gift, and the most common reason parents call poison control centers at Christmas. Keep perfume and cologne out of reach. That includes wrapped packages of perfume lying beneath the tree.
The stems and leaves on mistletoe are toxic. As for poinsettias? Barbara Insley Crouch of the Utah Poison Control Center says, "There's really not any evidence that poinsettias are poisonous."
Another problem every year-- people are too tired to clean up after their Christmas party, so they leave the mess until morning, including glasses of alcohol sitting out. Children sometimes find the drinks the next morning. "It not only can make them drunk and wobbly on their feet like you might expect," Crouch says, "But it can also drastically lower their blood sugar."
The best way to steer your child clear of Christmas trouble is to keep the trouble from ever getting into the house.
According to the Utah Safety Council, the biggest danger for kids at Christmas is when you buy the wrong toys for the wrong kids. Always buy age-appropriate toys. Robert Parenti of the Utah Safety Council says, "If that's done, then the likelihood of an accident taking place can be lowered substantially."
