As Christmas is coming closer, both parents and children may be busy shopping for the Christmas tree, decorating it and engaging in many other fun-filled activities.
However, according to previous reports, every year, winter holiday fire claims more than 600 lives and nearly 3000 injuries.
Following are some recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to avoid such occurrences and to have a safe and happy holiday season:
Trees
* Buy an artificial tree only after ensuring that it is fire resistant
* While purchasing a live tree, freshness should be given preference. A fresh tree will be green, with hard needles that cannot be broken easily when bent between fingers. Apart from that, resin can be spotted at the trunk end of a fresh tree
* Tree should be kept in a safe place at home, away from fireplaces, radiators or portable heaters
* Chop off a few inches from the trunk to help absorb water and avoid risks of catching fire
* The stand should be filled with water to avoid the tree drying out easily
Lights
* Ensure that all the bulbs work properly before hanging them on the tree.
* Do not hang electric lights on metallic trees, to safeguard against electrocution
* Ensure that lights for outdoor use are certified for that particular use. Insulated staples or hooks should be used to hang the lights properly. Do not use nails and tacks
* Switch off all lights before retiring to bed
Decorations
* Use only flame resistant materials to decorate a tree
* Do not place lighted candles on a tree
* Do not use sharp or breakable materials for decoration to avoid risks to small children. Keep trimmings out of reach of children to avoid the risk of swallowing
* Gloves are recommended while decorating with spun glass "angel hair"
* Wrapping papers, bags and other items should be kept away from the fire place
Choosing a Toy: Safety
* Select toys appropriate to the age of child
* Read warning labels carefully before buying a toy
* Avoid a toy that needs electricity
* Avoid buying toys with small parts, as small parts of a toy can be risky for children below three years
*Avoid toys with button batteries or magnets
* String or pull toys should not be more than 12 inches in length to avoid strangulation risks
Food Safety
* Meats and poultry should be thoroughly cooked to avoid food-borne diseases
* Keep your hands always clean
* Raw foods and cooked food should be stored separately
* Foods that spoil easily should not be kept at room temperature for more than two hours.
