Keep children safe during the holidays
The holiday season is a special time of year filled with gatherings and decorations. Unfortunately, it is also a time when parents overlook the increased dangers faced by their young children.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, young children are twice as likely to die in a home fire as the rest of the population. In addition, the number of children injured and killed by fires more than doubles during the holiday season.
Fortunately, parents can prevent these tragedies before they happen. The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) urges parents to keep their toddlers safe by recognizing and removing the additional shock and fire hazards of the season.
Decorations and holiday lights can beckon a child to grab hold for a closer look. Even worse, they can end up in the child's mouth. To prevent this, avoid putting tree lights, ornaments and other small "mouth-size" decorations near the ground or anywhere within a child's reach.
Another favorite target of small children is power cords. Consequently, parents should replace a worn or frayed electrical cord with one that is appropriately insulated and protected. An even better idea is to keep young children away from cords altogether, since a child can choke on as little as 12 inches of cord.
ESFI also recommends the following tips for keeping children safe this holiday season:
* Never leave a child unsupervised while cooking or when an electric or gas stove is within reach. (Don't leave the stove unattended either – that's a leading cause of home fires.)
* To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, don't give young children a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.
* Don't use space heaters in rooms where children are unsupervised. Children may stick their fingers or other objects through the protective guards, causing burns or shock.
Remember, good safety habits are still the best prevention against electrical hazards. For more holiday electrical safety information, visit www.holidaysafety.org.
-- Courtesy of StatePoint