Following safety, gift buying tips may help make holidays happy days

Along with the holidays come parties, travel, decorations, food and family get-togethers. Unfortunately, it is also one of the busiest times of the year for healthcare professionals and the last place anyone wants to celebrate their holidays is in an emergency room.

First, if purchasing a real tree, reduce the chances of a fire by keeping it well watered.

If purchasing an artificial tree, always look for the “UL” label. A “UL” label means trees and decorations are flame retardant and have been tested for safety by the Underwriters Laboratories.

Keep all trees away from heat sources and use safety-tested lights. Never light your tree with real candles. More than 13,000 candle-related fires start during the holiday season each year.

If you have small children, keep all breakable bulbs out of reach. You may even consider putting your tree on a table or putting a safety gate around the tree.

Remember to turn off all of your holiday lights when you leave the house and before going to bed.

Pay special attention to small children who may want to help make holiday meals and goodies, especially around sharp objects and hot stoves. With extra cooking and baking comes the increased chance of cooking fires.

Don’t leave pots unattended, keep combustible objects away from the stove and use turkey fryers with extreme caution.

Always celebrate responsibly, especially when you’re driving. Carpool and designate a driver before the festivities begin. The holidays are one of the most dangerous times of the year for motorists, so beware of severe winter weather and unsafe driving conditions.

Also, with holiday shopping in full swing, people can easily get caught up in gift buying and not stop to consider if the gifts they are purchasing are safe for children.

Observed in December, Safe Toys and Gifts Month is intended to bring public awareness to toy safety and precautions. Toy-related injuries send thousands of children to the emergency room each year. Inspecting and closely monitoring all new toys to make sure they are safe before they are even taken out of the package can easily prevent these incidents.

When selecting toys, consider the child’s age, interests and skill level.

Follow all age and safety recommendations on labels and look for the letters “ASTM” on the toy. This indicates the product has met the national standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials. Whether you have experience shopping for toys or not, these labels and age suggestions will help you find safe, appropriate gifts.

It is important to stay up to date on dangerous toys, product recalls and closely monitor the toys your children are in contact with.

Don’t give toys with small parts to infants, as they pose a safety hazard. Small children put things in their mouths increasing the risk of choking, which is the most common cause of toy-related deaths.

Avoid toys with sharp points or edges as well as those that produce loud noises. Toys with strings, straps and cords longer than seven inches should also be avoided as they may pose a risk for strangulation. Inspect all gifts as children open them if the gifts are from someone outside the family and keep older children’s toys away from younger children.

Toys are one of the many marvels of childhood, but their safety is oftentimes overlooked. In recognition of Safe Toys and Gifts Month, Marion Regional Healthcare System reminds everyone to find toys children will not only enjoy, but that you know are safe.

Keep your holidays happy by keeping them safe. With so much activity going on in the next several weeks, Marion Regional Healthcare System reminds you to implement these safety strategies to ensure everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday season. For information about the hospital or its affiliates, call (843) 431-2000.