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Home > Consumer Focus Archive > Holiday Safety: Part One > Holiday Safety: Part Two
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Consumer Focus: Holiday Safety
This is an archived document. |
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Holiday Safety: Part Two
 In part one of our Holiday Safety series, we focused on safe shopping and the dangers of decorations causing fire and food borne illness. Now, in part two we’ll show you more holiday safety tips that will help you enjoy winter sports, help you prevent toy-related injuries, and help keep your pets safe.
Posted: November 16, 2005
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 Winter Sports
The holiday season also signals the beginning of the winter sports season. Which means, whether you are playing or competing, winter sports injuries are about to begin. Winter sports injuries are often the result of poor fitness or a lack of sport specific conditioning. These injuries usually occur when you are tired from over-exertion or from lack conditioning. It may be too late for this year, but a good pre-season training program will help make the season more enjoyable and prevent exercise-related injuries. We also recommend the following general safety suggestion for winter sports:
- Never participate in winter sports alone, use the buddy system.
- Make sure that your clothing and sporting equipment (including shoes and skis) fit you correctly. Wrongly adjusted skis, for example, can put extra strain on your knee and ankle joints, which makes strains and sprains more likely.
- Be aware that you are exposed to UV radiation even on cold and cloudy days. Hey, sun block isn’t only for the beach.
- Drink plenty of water before, during and after sports.
- Don't push yourself until you are exhausted. Rest at regular intervals to avoid fatigue-related injuries.
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 Toys that Hurt
What do dolls and balls have in common with toy guns and jacks? They're all toys that have the potential to cause childhood injuries, or even death. Even safe toys can become dangerous if you don’t use them properly or maintain them. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has developed toy safety tips. Additionally, here are some things to consider when you think about protecting your kids.
- When your child gets a new toy, read the warning labels
- Promptly get rid of plastic wrap or packaging that might suffocate an infant.
- Pay attention to the recommended ages on the package
- Check toys regularly for broken or torn parts that can pose hazards (such as choking, if a small part breaks off, or sharp edges that can cut).
- If you have to assemble a toy, follow the directions carefully and fully.
- Get rid of popped balloons immediately. Small children can easily get them caught in their throats.
- Watch for toy recalls that affect you. When you buy a toy with a product registration card, fill it out and send it in so you can be notified about recalls.
- Teach your child that electric toys and water don't mix. Don't let them use electric toys around near liquids like water or hot chocolate (including making small lakes near electric trains), and don’t let them take electric toys out in the rain.
- Children with disabilities may have special needs that should be considered when buying toys.
- Help your children choose save websites like Kids.gov to surf when they are on the computer.
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 Keeping Pets Safe
The holidays are a wonderful time to celebrate with family and loved ones, but it can be a stressful and dangerous time for pets. During the holiday season, celebrations and decorations can cause pet safety hazards, and it's not uncommon to see accidents related to ingestion, injuries, and even electric shock. So don’t spoil the holiday season with an unnecessary medical emergency. The American Red Cross offers information about first aid kits for pets. And here are some tips to keep your pets safe during the holidays:
- Hang breakables, tinsel, and other decorations well out of paw’s reach. Tinsel, ribbon, and ornaments are especially dangerous to pets if chewed and swallowed.
- Remember, some seasonal plants can be poisonous, including mistletoe, holly berries, and poinsettias.
- Watch out for electrical cords. Pets, especially puppies, often try to chew them and may get badly burned, shocked or electrocuted.
- Metal ornament hooks can get caught in curious mouths. Use ribbon or yarn instead of hooks to hang your ornaments.
- A Christmas tree should stand on a flat, wide base. You may also want to anchor the tree with fishing line tied to a drapery rod, a ceiling or wall hook. Cats often see trees as excellent climbing posts. Whether your tree is live or artificial, both kinds of needles are indigestible.
- Cover your tree stand tightly with skirting. The water from the tree base can cause mouth sores, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.
- Refrain from using edible ornaments on your tree. They can pose an irresistible temptation for some pets.
- Keep your pets away from holiday treats, especially chocolate. Some active ingredients found in chocolate can be fatal to animals.
- Pets and candles just don’t mix. Keep Menorahs, Kwanza Mshumaas and scented candles out of reach.
- If you plan to entertain, provide a "safe haven" where your pets can go when they get overly excited or need to escape from little guest who want to play.
- If you are going away for the holidays: make sure pet enclosures are secure, your pets are wearing proper identification, and arrangements have been made for their care.
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Other Resources
This is just a brief overview. For more information, check out these resources:
Read this publication online or order it from our FCIC Family Page:
Read this publication online or order it from our FCIC Health Page:
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