A Few Ways to Keep Your Family Safe This Holiday Season

The holiday season is supposed to be one of the best times of the year for families with younger children. As a parent, seeing the excitement of your children can help bring the joy and innocence of the season to life. Unfortunately, while the holiday season is an exciting time for young children, it is also a time when they are more likely to be injured.

Thankfully, there are some easy ways that you can keep your children safer this holiday season and avoid some of the common reasons for holiday injuries. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

Put poisonous plants out of reach.

Many people don’t realize that common holiday plants like mistletoe and holly can actually be deadly when ingested. If you’re decorating with any poisonous plants this holiday season, make sure they are far out of the reach of young hands.

Keep young children out of the kitchen during holiday meal prep.

Children can be fascinated by the holiday meal prep process, and you may find that your children want to run in and out of the kitchen while you cook. Unfortunately, this is not always safe, as many children are injured in the kitchen during the holidays every year. If you cannot be with your children at all times, it is best to just keep them out of the kitchen while you’re cooking.

Make sure your child has the right car seat.

Car crashes are one of the leading causes of fatalities for young children in the United States. Many of these crashes are directly related to improper car seat use. Make sure that your child has the correct car seat for his or her age, weight, and height. Additionally, make sure that you’re not putting your child in the seat while he or she is wearing a heavy coat. Heavy or puffy coats can make the straps of the car seat loose, which can endanger your child in the case of an accident. 

Use extra caution when driving.

While it is always important to be a careful driver, it is even more important during the holiday season. Why? Well, people tend to engage in riskier driving behaviors, such as distracted driving and driving under the influence during this time of year. Because of this, it is important to make sure to avoid any risky driving behaviors yourself and be on high alert for others who may be distracted, intoxicated, drowsy, etc.

Watch out for choking hazards.

Many children end up in the emergency room for choking each year during the holiday season. It is all too easy for a small child to pick up a plastic wrapper, small toy part, hard candy, or any other choking hazard during busy events like holiday get-togethers. Make sure you keep your floors and low-surfaces free of choking hazards to protect your younger children this holiday season.

 

These are just a few ways that you can help your small children stay a bit safer during the holidays this year. Knowing your children are less likely to be injured can help you relax and enjoy the holiday season with them that much more.